The Effect of Different Personality Disorders on Criminal Behavior

Abstract

Criminal behavior remains a pervasive issue in our society, and prior research has established a clear link between criminal behavior and personality disorders. While personality disorders are relatively uncommon in the general population, they are significantly more prevalent in prison populations, indicating a positive correlation. This study seeks to delve deeper into the relationship between criminal behavior and personality disorders, specifically exploring the various clusters of disorders as classified by DSM-V and their impact on criminal behavior. Previous studies have consistently shown that personality disorders are more prevalent in prison populations compared to the general public. For instance, according to DSM-IV, only 5.7% of the general population exhibited Cluster A personality disorders, 1.5% had Cluster B personality disorders, and 6% had Cluster C personality disorders. In contrast, in prison populations, these percentages often exceed 50% and can reach as high as 89%, underscoring a clear connection between the presence of personality disorders and criminal behavior. Interestingly, Cluster B personality disorders appear to be the most prevalent among criminals, despite having the lowest prevalence in the general population. They are followed by Cluster A disorders, with Cluster C personality disorders being the least common in prison populations, though still observable in samples. This suggests that each Cluster has its unique association with criminal behavior, aligning with its distinct characteristics. Furthermore, different personality disorders exhibit distinct relationships with criminal behavior. For instance, antisocial and borderline personality disorders, both belonging to Cluster B, are frequently prevalent in criminal populations and often rank as the two most common personality disorders among inmates. Conversely, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders seem to be significantly associated with homicide. However, despite these findings, there is still a limited body of research that fully elucidates the connection between personality disorders and criminal behavior and the underlying mechanisms. Nevertheless, it appears that the symptoms associated with each personality disorder make individuals diagnosed with these disorders more predisposed to engage in criminal activities compared to those without such disorders.