1.Associations Between Personality Traits And Aggression Among Malay Adult Male Inmates In Malaysia
Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin ; Nadiah Syariani Md Shariff ; Azizah Othman ; Khaidzir Hj Ismail ; Geshina Ayu Mat Saat
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2014;15(2):176-185
Objective: A sizable body of criminology literature has suggested that personality
factors are critical to the development of aggressive behaviour. While research
on personality focusing on aggression often revolves on "Eynseck Three Factor
Model" and "Big Five Model", research on "Alternative Five Factor Model"
(AFFM) is rather inadequate. Objective: The present study aimed to examine the
association between five types of personality traits and subscales of aggression.
Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in two prisons
in Peninsular Malaysia among 198 Malay adult male inmates. The participants
were selected based on the purposive sampling method from those who were
convicted for various types of crime. Two psychometric instruments adapted to
the Malaysian context were used: Malay version of Zuckerman-Kuhlman
Personality Questionnaire-40-Cross Culture (ZKPQ-M-40-CC) and Aggression
Questionnaire (AQ-M). Pearson correlation coefficient test was conducted to
determine the association between five types of personality traits and subscales
of aggression. Results: The results showed that there was a significant association
between certain types of personality traits and subscales of aggression. The
results were discussed in relation to theory and the context of crime. Conclusion:
There is evidence that personality traits are linked to aggressive behaviour which
may lead a person to commit offenses.
2.Linking Psychological Traits With Criminal Behaviour: A Review
Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin ; Nadiah Syariani Md Shariff ; Azizah Othman ; Khaidzir Hj Ismail ; Geshina Ayu Mat Saat
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2015;16(2):1-13
Objective: Apart from environmental and social factors, psychological traits is largely linked with criminal and delinquent behaviour. The purpose of this article is to review four critical psychological traits of individuals that may lead to criminal behaviour in a nutshell.
Methods: An archival research methodology was employed in this study where relevant search for literatures on these four psychological traits was made across search engines such as Google Scholar with relevant articles selected for this review. The literatures were microscopically reviewed in order to demonstrate the linkage between psychological traits and criminal behaviour.
Results: Four psychological traits: personality trait, low self-control, aggression behaviour, and cognitive distortion were chosen to address such linkages. All these four traits were discussed thoroughly in relation to crime and criminality contexts.
Conclusion: It is crucial to understand the role of these traits and in-depth understanding of each psychological trait with relation of criminal behaviour offers and opportunity to the public at large to expand their knowledge on the importance of practicing and equipping oneself with healthy psychological traits to hinder criminal and delinquent acts.
3.Psychological traits underlying different killing methods amongMalaysian male murderers
Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin ; Nadiah Syariani Md. Shariff ; Siti Nurfarliza ; Azizah Othman ; Khaidzir Hj. Ismail ; Geshina Ayu Mat Saat
The Malaysian Journal of Pathology 2014;36(1):41-50
Murder is the most notorious crime that violates religious, social and cultural norms. Examining
the types and number of different killing methods that used are pivotal in a murder case. However,
the psychological traits underlying specific and multiple killing methods are still understudied. The
present study attempts to fill this gap in knowledge by identifying the underlying psychological
traits of different killing methods among Malaysian murderers. The study adapted an observational
cross-sectional methodology using a guided self-administered questionnaire for data collection.
The sampling frame consisted of 71 Malaysian male murderers from 11 Malaysian prisons who
were selected using purposive sampling method. The participants were also asked to provide the
types and number of different killing methods used to kill their respective victims. An independent
sample t-test was performed to establish the mean score difference of psychological traits between
the murderers who used single and multiple types of killing methods. Kruskal-Wallis tests were
carried out to ascertain the psychological trait differences between specific types of killing methods.
The results suggest that specific psychological traits underlie the type and number of different
killing methods used during murder. The majority (88.7%) of murderers used a single method of
killing. Multiple methods of killing was evident in ‘premeditated’ murder compared to ‘passion’
murder, and revenge was a common motive. Examples of multiple methods are combinations of
stabbing and strangulation or slashing and physical force. An exception was premeditated murder
committed with shooting, when it was usually a single method, attributed to the high lethality of
firearms. Shooting was also notable when the motive was financial gain or related to drug dealing.
Murderers who used multiple killing methods were more aggressive and sadistic than those who used
a single killing method. Those who used multiple methods or slashing also displayed a higher level
of minimisation traits. Despite its limitations, this study has provided some light on the underlying
psychological traits of different killing methods which is useful in the field of criminology.
Homicide
;
Psychology