Emotional disposition as correlate of antisocial personality disorders among incarcerated youths in Benue and Nasarawa States Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated Emotional Disposition as a correlate of the development of antisocial personality disorders among Incarcerated Youths in Benue and Nasarawa States. It was guided by four research questions and corresponding hypotheses. The study utilized a correlation survey research design with a sample of 502 incarcerated youths from prisons in Benue and Nasarawa States. A 19 item self-developed questionnaire titled Emotional Disposition, and Antisocial Personality Scale (EDAPS) was used for data collection. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) wherein the Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistics was used to determine the simple correlation and regression between emotional disposition (ED) and antisocial personality disorders (ASPD) to answer the research questions while Multiple correlation/Regression analysis was used to test the corresponding hypotheses at 0.05% level of significance. Findings indicate that there was a significant relationship between emotional disposition (ED) and antisocial personality disorders (ASPD). Based on the findings it was recommended among other things that Parents should be mindful of children’s emotional dispositions and shun negative labeling, name calling, harsh criticisms as well as coercive disciplinary practices that likely interact with precarious emotional dispositions to create fertile grounds for the development of ASPD among young persons. The role and pattern of counselling interventions for antisocial youths in incarceration and those in the general population and schools were also highlighted to include legislative and advocacy for school-based initiatives of integrating emotional intelligence content into the curriculum.