DEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATES OF PSYCHOPATHY AND VIOLENT CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS AMONG NIGERIAN OFFENDERS

Abstract

 The study investigated psychopathy and violent criminal behavior and their association with demographic variables in a Nigerian offender context. The study employed a non-experimental quantitative research design, and a total number of 141 offenders participated in the study (89% response rate) from the custodial center. Demographic data was obtained by means of a self-compiled biographical questionnaire, and levels of psychopathy were determined by using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), and four hypotheses were tested using the chi-square test for independence as a statistical tool to test the hypotheses stated in the study. Hypothesis one revealed no significant relationship between age and psychopathic violent criminal behavior among incarcerated inmates of the medium-security custodial center in Kaduna, Nigeria (β = .010, t = .212, p > .05). Hypothesis two indicated no significant relationship between educational affiliation and psychopathic violent criminal behavior among incarcerated inmates of the medium-security custodial center in Kaduna, Nigeria (β = -.276, t = -.564, p > .05). Hypothesis three showed no significant relationship between religious affiliation and psychopathic violent criminal behavior among incarcerated inmates of the medium-security custodial center in Kaduna, Nigeria (β = .977, t = 1.276, p > .05). Hypothesis four revealed no significant relationship between the nature of crime and psychopathic violent criminal behavior among incarcerated inmates of the medium-security custodial center in Kaduna, Nigeria (β = -.592, t = -.957, p > .05). The study concludes that demographic factors such as age, education, and religion do not have a significant impact on psychopathic violent behavior among inmates in Kaduna, Nigeria. Therefore, it was recommended that forensic psychologists and other behavioral scientists who engage with custodial centers should conduct comprehensive, individualized assessments of inmates to identify underlying factors contributing to their behavior, rather than relying solely on demographic characteristics.

Keywords: Checklist-Revised, Criminal, Demographic variables, Offender, Psychopathy, Violent criminal.