Physical Characteristics and Criminality Inmates in some Nigerian Prisons

Abstract

The study examines the relationship between the physical traits on criminal behaviours of inmates in some Nigerian Prisons. Correlational study was employed to find out the degree of relationship. Five hundred and four (504) inmates who were randomly selected from prisons in Lagos, Oyo, Osun , Ondo and Ekiti states took part in the study. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was the instrument used to collect information on personality traits while weighting scale was used to measure the weight and metre rule was used to measure the height of inmates. The instrument was validated with the use of two methods, the criterion related validity and concurrent validity (Eysenck 1975) and the reliability was considered adequate. The results indicate that majority (75%) of the inmates sampled were between 153 cm and 183 cm (1.53 metres and 1.83 metres). Also majority (62%) of the respondents were between the range of 56kg and 75 kg. There is significant relationship between height and psychoticism of inmates. Based on the results personality traits like height and weight are not related to criminal behavioural disposition, except that there is relationship between height and psychoticism. It is recommended that height and weight should not be considered as criminal behavioural disposition.

The Nigerian Journal of Guidance Counselling Vol. 10 (1) 2005: pp. 31-40