SPECIFIC PERSONALITY TRAITS OF INMATES WHO HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT AND SEXUAL OFFENSES

Objective. This study analyzed the personality traits that may characterize offenders convicted of rape and violent acts. Material and methods. The study involved 850 incarcerated individuals, permanently sentenced and detained within the National Penitentiary Administration of Romania. Participants were aged between 21 and 71 years (MD = 38.7), with 3% being female. The CP5F Personality Questionnaire and a thematic omnibus questionnaire were applied. Results. The analysis revealed that the prisoners who committed a violent act had statistically significantly higher scores on the Extraversion scales (M = 72.14, SD = 11.43; M =70.24, SD =9.58), t(848) = 8.47, p < .05., Emotional Stability (M = 80.22, SD = 10.96; M =77.76, SD =10.82), t(848) = .51, p < .005, and Autonomy (M = 76.12, SD = 9.49; M =74.56, SD =8.25), t(848) = 7.15, p < .05, than the non-violent ones. Prisoners who committed the crime of rape have lower scores on Conscientiousness (M = 99.7783), Emotional Stability (M = 76.6179), and Autonomy (M = 74.0189) compared to those who committed crimes in other categories. Conclusions. The entire sample is characterized by low levels of Emotional Stability and Autonomy. Violent offenders were specifically characterized by lower levels of Extraversion, while rape offenders displayed notably lower levels of Conscientiousness. The present study suggests that there is an urgent need for specialized interventions by considering the psychological aspects that characterize the type of crime committed. Keywords: personality traits, prisoner, crime, violence, rape.