The personality of Icelandic prisoners: some normative data

Abstract

Several psychologic tests relevant to criminal behaviour were administered to 80 Icelandic prisoners. These were the Standard Progressive Matrices, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Gough Socialisation Scale, the Arrow-Dot Test, the Gudjonsson Blame Attribution Inventory, and two Deception questionnaires. As predicted, Icelandic prisoners had elevated scores on EPQ Psychoticism (P) and Neuroticism (N), but the hypothesis was not confirmed with regard to Extraversion (E). The sample scored low on the Gough Socialisation Scale, similar to American prisoners. The sample as a whole did not have elevated Arrow-Dot impulsivity scores. Attribution of blame for the crime had some significant correlations with personality. High P scorers tended to blame their crime on external factors, such as provocation, and neurotic introverts reported the greatest amount of guilt for their offence.