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PERSONALITY, INTEGRITY, AND WHITE COLLAR CRIME: A CONSTRUCT VALIDITY STUDY
Author(s) -
COLLINS JUDITH M.,
SCHMIDT FRANK L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
personnel psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.076
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1744-6570
pISSN - 0031-5826
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6570.1993.tb00875.x
Subject(s) - psychology , personality , construct validity , social psychology , conscientiousness , construct (python library) , test (biology) , personality test , sample (material) , collar , white collar crime , big five personality traits , developmental psychology , test validity , psychometrics , criminology , extraversion and introversion , mechanical engineering , paleontology , chemistry , chromatography , biology , computer science , engineering , programming language
This study examined the construct validity of personality scales, a personality‐based integrity test, and homogenous biodata scales as reflected in their ability to discriminate white collar criminals from other white collar employees. The sample included 365 prison inmates incarcerated in 23 federal correctional institutions for white collar offenses, and 344 individuals employed in upper‐level positions of authority. A cross‐validated linear discriminant function ( DF ) based on 16 variables selected in the developmental sample produced a large difference (1.83 standard deviation units) between the two sample groups. The pattern of score differences revealed the offenders as having greater tendencies toward irresponsibility, lack of dependability, and disregard of rules and social norms. This study indicates that there are large and measurable psychological differences between white collar offenders and nonoffenders, and that the major construct underlying these differences is “social conscientiousness.” The best measure of this difference was a personality‐based integrity test.