Personality Traits and Defense Mechanisms of Delinquent Boys in Correction and Rehabilitation Centers According to Types of Crime

Abstract

The aim of this study was comparing personality traits and defense mechanisms of delinquent boys in six categories of thievery, quarrel, drugs, murder, sexual abuse and abduction. The sample included 60 guilty boys resided in the correction and rehabilitation center in Tehran who were selected by accessible sampling method. NEO Questionnaire was used for assessing personality traits and Defense Style Mechanisms Questionnaire was used to assess defense mechanisms. Using one-way ANOVA and Tukey, the results showed significant differences in openness factor between thievery group with quarrel group and quarrel group with murder group but there was no difference between other groups. There were also significant differences in sublimation mechanism between thievery group with abduction group and abduction group with substance abusive group. Since there are significant differences between crimes that are accompanied by injury and death with other crimes, it is necessary to use different interventions for people with different crimes in Correction and Rehabilitation Centers.

Keywords

• delinquency
• personality
• defense mechanism
• crime