Psychopathic traits and age of crime onset in male juvenile delinquents. (May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pechorro, Pedro; Maroco, João; Gonçalves, Rui Abrunhosa; Nunes, Cristina; Jesus, Saul Neves
• Is Part Of: European journal of criminology. Volume 11:Number 3(2014)
• Page Start: 288
• Page End: 302
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Subjects: Juvenile delinquency -- psychopathic traits -- conduct disorder -- behaviour problems -- crime onset; Criminology -- Europe -- Periodicals; Crime -- Europe -- Periodicals; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1477370813495759
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-3708

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the role of psychopathic traits in the crime onset age of male juvenile delinquents. A group of early crime onset ( n = 102), a group of late crime onset ( n = 102), and a non-delinquent group ( n = 102) were formed from a sample of 306 male youths from Portuguese juvenile detention centres and schools. Results showed that early crime onset participants scored higher on psychopathic measures, self-reported delinquency, crime seriousness and conduct disorder than late crime onset participants, and the non-delinquent participants. Psychopathic-traits scores showed significant associations with age of crime onset, age at first encounter with the law, age of first incarceration, self-reported delinquency, seriousness of crime and conduct disorder.