Cognitive Functioning and Delinquency: Property versus Violent Offenses

Anthony Walsh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

<p> <p id="x-x-p-1"> This study compares means on property and violent offenses broken down by verbal IQ levels among a sample of 256 juvenile delinquents. Low IQ delinquents were present in the sample in significantly higher proportions than would be expected in comparison to population IQ norms. Within the sample, it was found that there was an inverse relationship between IQ levels and violent crime and a positive relationship between IQ levels and property crime. Low IQ apparently predisposes delinquents to impulsive and spontaneous crimes which offer instant gratification. High IQ apparently predisposes delinquents to crimes which require planning and offer deferred gratification. These findings underscore the complexity of the relationship between IQ and delinquency. </p></p>
Original languageAmerican English
JournalInternational Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
StatePublished - 1 Nov 1987

EGS Disciplines

  • Criminal Law

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cognitive Functioning and Delinquency: Property versus Violent Offenses'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this