Thesis Title: Psychopathy, Impulsivity and Criminal Thinking in Young Offenders
Author Name: Asad Mehmood
Supervisor: Zaeema Farooq
Year: 2017
Degree: BS
Department: Institute of Applied Psychology
University: Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
Abstract
The present research was conducted to investigate the relationship of psychopathy, impulsivity and criminal Thinking in young offenders. It was hypothesized that psychopathy would predict criminal thinking and impulsivity. It was further hypothesized that impulsivity would predict criminal thinking and also mediate the relationship between psychopathy and impulsivity. Correlational research design was used. The sample consisted of young offenders (N = 130) with age range of the offenders from 18 years to 30 years (M = 25.75, SD = 3.16) selected from jails of Lahore using purposive sampling technique. In addition to demographic sheet, Hare Psychopathy Checklist Revised (Hare, 1980), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (Barratt, 1995) and Criminal Thinking Scale (Walters, 1998) were used for assessment. The data was analyzed using Pearson product moment correlation and structural equation modeling with AMOS. The results showed that psychopathy positively predicted justification, power orientation, entitlement, criminal rationalization and personal irresponsibility. Psychopathy was a positive predictor of impulsivity. Impulsivity positively predicted criminal rationalization, cold heartedness, entitlement and power orientation. Impulsivity mediated the relationship between psychopathy and justification, power orientation, cold heartedness, criminal rationalization, entitlement and personal irresponsibility The present study findings highlights predictors of criminal thinking in forensic populations.
Keywords:
Psychopathy, impulsivity, criminal thinking.
