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Emotional Intelligence and Criminal Behavior
Author(s) -
Megreya Ahmed M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12625
Subject(s) - aggression , psychology , emotional intelligence , intelligence quotient , criminal behavior , personality , cognition , criminal behaviour , clinical psychology , criminology , developmental psychology , social psychology , psychiatry
A large body of research links criminality to cognitive intelligence and personality traits. This study examined the link between emotional intelligence ( EI ) and criminal behavior. One hundred E gyptian adult male offenders who have been sentenced for theft, drug dealing or murder and 100 nonoffenders were administered the Bar‐On Emotional Quotient Inventory ( EQ ‐i). The offenders had lower levels of EI than the nonoffenders. In addition, EI varied as a function of the types of offenses. Namely, it decreased in magnitude with crime severity (lowest for murder, higher for drug dealing, and highest for theft). These results converged with the direct/ indirect aggression theory suggesting that indirect aggression requires more social intelligence than physical aggression. Forensic intervention programs should therefore include EI training, especially when violence is involved.