Irrational thinking in criminals and noncriminals.

Abstract

A study comparing three populations (violent offenders versus nonviolent offenders versus a general population) for irrational beliefs was conducted. In addition, comparisons were made according to felony offense by race. The subjects were 120 felony offenders incarcerated at the Kansas Industrial Reformatory (KSIR) in Hutchison, Kansas. The control group consisted of 177 individuals from the general population sample used by Jones (1968) in constructing the Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT). Statistical data regarding demographic variables and type of offense were obtained from the Kansas Department of Corrections. The data were examined to determine if there was a significant association between criminal behavior and irrational beliefs. Ansalysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures indicated that there was no significant association between criminal behavior and irrational beliefs. Such findings are consistent with theories which describe the criminal as both sane and rational. other data were examined using t-test procedures to determine if there was an association between felony offense by race and by irrational beliefs. Results indicated no significant association between race, felony offense and irrational beliefs. Recommendations are given promoting research methodology that adequately distinquishes between the psychopathic and non-psychopathic offender in the criminal justice system.