REINFORCEMENT SENSITIVITY IN REOFFENDERS AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship between personality
and crime has been vastly examined in theoretical and
empirical studies in different scientific domains. The
Reinforcement Sensitivity Theo,y (RST) is a
neuropsychological model that has recently sparked
increasing research interest, although studies on RST
and crime have mostly been focused on characteristics
that distinguish offenders from non-offenders.
Aim: Considering the lack of empirical research in
offending subgroups this study examines whether RST
facets can differentiate reoffenders from primary
offenders and violent from nonviolent offenders. The
participants are male offenders (N=l62) incarcerated in
three penitentiary institutions in Macedonia. We
utilized the recently developed RST Personality
Questionnaire (RST-PQ).
Methods: The respondents are prisoners in three
penitentiary institutions in the Republic of Macedonia.
Macedonia (N = 162). For the assessment of the
person's profile, the Personality Assessment
Questionnaire is applied according to the theory of
Sensitivity of Substance (RST-PQ).

Results: The comparison of separate RST facets
indicates that two dimensions of reward sensitivity
have moderate discriminant value. Namely, reoffenders
are significantly more impulsive that primary
offenders, while reward interest is significantly lower
in violent offenders.
Conclusion: Considering the fact that the data revealed
more similarities than differences in personality traits
of the compared offender subgroups, fm1her research is
needed on the effects of prison life experiences, since
these might potentially determine offending behaviour
more significantly that primary personality
dispositions.