Psychopathic traits and ethnicity in female youths. Issue 2 (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pechorro, Pedro Santos; Poiares, Carlos; Vieira, Rui Xavier; Nunes, Cristina; Jesus, Saul Neves
• Is Part Of: Australian & New Zealand journal of criminology. Volume 47:Issue 2(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: behavior problems -- conduct disorder -- ethnicity -- female juvenile delinquency -- psychopathic traits; Criminology -- Australia -- Periodicals; Criminology -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Criminology -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Australia -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; 364.099
• DOI: 10.1177/0004865813503840
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-8658

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the differences regarding psychopathic traits and related constructs in female youths of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Using a sample of 88 young females from the Juvenile Detention Centers of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice (white Europeans group: n = 44, ethnic minorities group: n = 44), and a sample of 130 young females from the schools of the Lisbon region (white Europeans group: n = 65, ethnic minorities group: n = 65) results showed that almost no differences were found within the forensic group and the school group. Independently of ethnic group membership, psychopathic traits scores were significantly associated with behavioral problems, conduct disorder, self-reported delinquency, crime seriousness, age of crime onset, and age at first trouble with the law.