PERSONALITY TRAITS AS PREDICTORS OF LOW-SELF CONTROL, AGGRESSION AND SELF-SERVING COGNITIVE DISORDER: A STUDY AMONG MALAYSIAN MALE MURDERERS

Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin, Nadiah Syariani Md. Shariff, Siti Nur-Farliza, Azizah Othman, Khaidzir Ismail, Geshina Ayu Mat Saat

Abstract


An individual’s personality traits seem to be a factor in developing and shaping violent criminal behaviour. Due to this realization, the present study seeks to explore the relationship of personality traits with low self-control, aggression, and self-serving cognitive distortion. The present study was an observational cross-sectional study using a guided self-administered questionnaire: M-PsychoQ. The source population was the male murderers incarcerated in 11 prisons in Peninsular Malaysia. 71 participants were selected based on a predetermined selection criteria using purposive sampling method. After undergoing the validation processes, the emerged M-PsychoQ consisted of four psychometric instruments: Malay versions of the Zuckerman Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire-40-Cross-Culture (ZKPQ-M-40-CC), Self-control Scale (SCS-M), Aggression Questionnaire (AQ-M-12), and “How I Think” Questionnaire (HIT-M). Regression analyses viz. simple and multiple linear regression approaches were conducted in order to predict whether personality traits would emerge as significant predictors. The findings evidenced certain personality traits as significant predictors of low self-control, high levels of aggression and self-serving cognitive distortion. This study imparts statistical evidence on the role of personality traits as an important predictor of low self-control, high aggression and self-serving cognitive distortion. The results were discussed in relation to the theory and context of murder.


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