Impulsiveness and venturesomeness among juvenile offenders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine possible relationships between delinquency and the personality traits of the juvenile offenders. The research covered a level of impulsiveness, venturesomeness and empathy among offenders placed in a juvenile shelter in comparison to a control group with a clean criminal record. Results analysis show that personality of juvenile offenders in surveyed dimensions was substantially different from the personality of adolescents in the control group. In particular, the impulsiveness level of juvenile offenders was significantly higher, and the empathy level was significantly lower than of control group. There was no significant differences found in a venturesomeness level in this comparison. The presented research problem certainly requires further studies, particularly focusing on the significance of impulsiveness and empathy as a personality dimension in the genesis of juvenile delinquency, but also in the context of social rehabilitation.