Crime and Intelligence - Lab Report Example

Crime and intelligence Insert Insert There is a considerable interest among researchers on the relationship between the intellectual levels and criminal activities. Majority of psychology literature focuses on evaluating the deep relationship of IQ and crime. Research proves arise in a number of individuals whose brain functionality is below average in major prisons across the country. The paper reviews the relation that exists between criminal activities and levels of IQ. The paper further establishes the link between lower functioning intelligence and offending. The paper also identifies the possible factors that that enhances the relationship between intellectual levels and crime. The paper introduces various existing literature on the relationship between IQ levels and criminal activities. The research leads to the emergence of major themes such as persons with lower functionality intellectual levels face presentation continuously in the social setting; hence, there is a need to provide specialized programs to take care for the requirements of these individuals. The study states the hypothesis of the research process and with respect to the relationship between IQ levels and crime. The hypothesis has further evaluation throughout the paper as it tries to find the factual facts on the relationship between the levels of IQ and crime. The paper discusses the research methodology in details and provides its limitations. The findings of the research have a good representation in the paper and critical analysis is in the research paper. The discussion has to agree or disagree with the research hypothesis. The research paper concludes with a review of the research paper and provides prove of the existence or inexistence of the research hypothesis. This is of accomplishment by providing the necessary fact with reference to the research. The paper is completed with a list o f the literature used during the research process. Introduction Persons whose intelligent quotient is below average have classification among the most vulnerable groups in the society about isolation and the negative attitude in the society. The reasons are accompanying the vulnerability nature of such individuals include social disadvantages due their inability to socialize with other individuals in the society. Vocational challenges and scholarly challenge are part of them. The individuals’ daily activities are highly affected by their failure to execute basic process in the society. They feel rejected and isolated in the society especially during the early growth stages. Intelligence levels and crime have evaluation about individuals with high levels of intelligent quotient in the society. This suggests that a crime does not occur among the intellectually challenged individuals but also among individuals whose intelligent quotient is quite high. Research shows that a crime among the intellectually challenged individuals happens because of isolation and rejection in the society. On the other hand, crime among individuals with high levels of intelligent quotient happens while they are carrying out their daily activities or because of their desire to satisfy the high levels of curiosity. The fact that individuals with low intelligent quotient face particular challenges as they try to fit the standard social setup throughout their life increases their probability of committing a crime. This suggests the likelihood of being imprisoned for long periods due to shallow knowledge of their rights. The relationship between crime levels and intelligent quotient is highly reflected on both sides of the society since it occurs among individuals with both high and low IQ levels. The Research conducting was by use of MANCOVA and ANCOVA procedures. The individuals were from different social perspectives including prisons, schools and work places. This aims at enhancing or fulfilling the hypothesis of the research. The study hypothesis is; the levels of intelligent quotient do not relate to crime in the society. The research proposal had a purpose to support or disapprove the existing literature on the relationship between crime and intelligent quotient levels in the society. Intelligent and Crime Various researches in the attempt of supporting or opposing the debate on the relationship existing between intelligent levels and crime rates in the society is a major role in the characterization of last few decades. Hirsch (1977) argues that there is a unique association between the intellectual functioning and crime activities amongst individuals in the society. Researchers associate crime with ethnicity, race and poverty while others tend to associate crime with low intelligent quotients. Recent research, however, indicates a new breed of criminals with high levels of intelligent quotient. This is because of technological advancement especially in the communication sectors. The different types of crime include; cyber crime and patent related issues. Murray and Herrnstein (1994) explain the relationship between crimes and intelligent based on two main levels of understanding. They argue that low intelligent quotient levels resulting from poor performance in school and job mainly influence crime activities among individuals. Moreover, it is under power of failure to integrate and adapt effectively in the society. Individuals with low intelligent quotient to anticipate the consequences o f their actions about law and emotion effects of their victims base the second explanation on the failure. Research done by Wolfgang et al. (1972) indicates that there is a steady relationship between crime and levels of intelligent quotient. It also indicates that the seriousness of the crime varied with respect to the level of intelligent quotient of a given individual. This suggests that individuals with lower intelligent quotient levels tend to commit more serious as compared to those with higher IQ levels. Violent Crimes and IQ levels Research done by Spellacy (1978) indicates that individuals with lower intelligent quotient levels were involved in violent crimes as compared to those with higher levels of IQ. This clearly indicates a rise in the probability of the existence of a relationship between IQ and crime. According to Kandel (1988), individuals with high intelligent quotient scores act as protection against environments with high levels of crime that may affect their daily activities. Some researchers argue that it is hard to arrest intelligent criminals since they are cautious when committing the crime. It is evident that criminals with high intelligent quotient levels commit minor crimes hence do not raise much alarm in the respective security authorities. IQ level and sex offenders There is the absence of concrete and complete research focusing on the relationship between intelligent quotient and sex offences. It is argued that the majority of sex offenders have mental issues or social influences. Research done on the given number of sex offenders showed some aspects of social negligence and isolation. This clearly indicates that levels of intelligent quotient do not play any role in the sex offenses. Major offenders in sex malpractices are found to be brilliant in school and at work though they have particular social issues. Low intelligent quotient levels among sex offenders results mainly from the mode of upbringing and the environmental influences. Researchers, therefore, indicate that, there is minimal relationship between crime and intelligent quotient levels among sex offenders. This implies that the relationship between crime and intelligent quotient levels depends on the type o f crime. Crimes related to technology are mainly committed by individuals with high levels of intelligent quotient implying that; the relationship between crime and intelligent quotient levels varies with the crime. Methodology The research was carried out using sampling method. This is a qualitative research method, which involves the selection of a given sample and evaluating it. The results obtained from the sample are to assume the general population. Subjects The study subjects were available from a maximum-security correction facility in the United States and a corresponding Juvenile correction centre. The conducting of research was majorly on a sample of four hundred individuals from the maximum-security facility and hundred children obtained from the Juvenile correction facility. The object of this action was to ensure the accuracy of the results and findings. The subjects of the study contained offenders from various country sections and with varying crime records. Among the four hundred adults, one hundred were sex offenders, two hundred were robbers and one hundred had committed office related crimes. The adults were all men and their ages varied from 22-27 years (average age of 25 years). The child sample comprised of kids aged between twelve to seventeen years, which averaged at 15 years and was composed of 25 females and 75 males. The other sample (control group) composed of children who were involved in criminal activities like drug peddling robbery and cyber crimes. The kids who had committed serious crimes like murder were kept at the children correction facility until they attained the right age so that they could be transferred to maximum-security facilities. The circumstances that led to the subjects committing the respective crime were evaluated about their social environment. During the study, ninety-eight percent of the adults agreed to undertake an intelligent quotient test while a hundred per cent of the children agreed to take the test. The kids in the Juvenile correction facility were continuing also evident all with their studies. This was quite crucial for the research since their academic performance would be evaluated efficiently hence gauging their intelligent quotient levels. Education levels of the research subjects were evaluated as well as their social background including their residential states and cities. This ensured that the data obtained from the study considered other factors that lead to a crime other than their IQ levels. Procedure The process of collecting data covered several dimensions including the individual’s personal characteristics, characteristics of the crime committed and the situation prior to committing a crime, the victim’s features and the crime committed. The process involved a series of psychological tests including the intelligent quotient test. The results of the individuals’ computerized intelligent quotient tests were also utilized during the research. Measures The study was conducted deliberately on a limited variable number and used incarcerated criminals without chosen randomly from a group of incarcerated individuals. Regarding the high heterogeneity of the criminals, it would be effective to use a reliable taxonomic method. This was impossible as a result of the limited number of the subjects. The information of the subjects was also available, therefore, there was no need of using the topology system. Intelligent Quotient The research made use of the Tests d’Aptitudes Informatises (TAI) computerized intelligence assessment system. The system consists of eleven scales for evaluating different intelligence features such as vocabulary, information, arithmetic, comprehension, understanding, and memory functionality, logical reasoning verbally, and computation of mental math, object assembly and ability to sequence letter-numbers. Validity and Reliability The TAI test is highly credible in terms of validity and credibility. The participant’s scores vary regardless of the fact that they are taken in different occasion and different ages. The IQ scores for individuals with varying ages also shows variations, but they agree when the error band is taken into consideration. The TAI system allows an error band of three points that are the standard measurement error allowed. The system consists of eleven scales for assessing different intelligence features such as vocabulary, information, arithmetic, comprehension, understanding, and memory functionality, logical reasoning verbally, and computation of mental math, object assembly and ability to sequence letter-numbers. These are the significant features considered when evaluating the intelligent levels among individuals. The system also enhances evaluation of the metal situation of the individuals, which is highly relevant in the research Results The main study objective is the evaluation of the relationship between crime and intelligent quotient levels. The following results were obtained from the TAI intelligence assessment system: IQ Aspects Robbery Sex Offence Office Offences Control Group Adults Children Adults Adults Children Adults Children Knowledge 16 15.2 16.2 15.8 14.7 18 17 Comprehension 13 12 11.6 13.7 11.1 19 18 Arithmetic 7.0 6.1 7.2 6.7 6.0 10 9 Mental computations 16 15 17 18 15.8 17 20 Object assembly 8.0 10.0 11.6 12 11 15 18 Sequencing 9.0 8.9 10.1 9.5 8.9 11 14 Perception 14.8 15.0 15.4 16.7 15.3 17 19 Functioning memory 13.4 14.8 14.9 18 12.9 18 20 Vocabulary 15.7 16.8 16.1 17.5 15.3 16 18 Verbal logic reasoning 4.6 5.0 4.9 10.5 7.9 16 15 There were no cases of sex offenses in the Juvenile facility hence no results were obtained during the research. Discussion The relationship existing between crime and intelligent quotient levels is highly reflected in the data obtained during the research. Analysis of the research data indicates the intelligent quotient levels of the children in the Juvenile facility is average. The research has indication that the majority of the crimes committed by the children were mainly accidental. There are some people in Juvenile facility who committed the crimes. This is strictly due to inability to perceive the consequences of their actions. The results show some impact of the crime committed was directly proportional for intelligent quotient levels. The children who were convicted with minor crimes had intelligent quotient levels ranging way above average. Moreover, seventy percent of children convicted of robbery other fatal crimes had below average intelligent quotient levels. The adults convicted of sex offences and robberies and murder performed extremely poorly on the intelligent quotient tests. This clearly indicates the direct relationship exist between crime and intelligent quotient level. The study shows that individuals who were previously victims of social injustices like negligence and isolation performed averagely in the intelligent quotient test. This is an indication of the role played by the society into pushing the individual into crime. The individuals convicted of office related crimes such as cyber crimes, embezzlement of funds and discrimination performed exemplary in the intelligent quotient tests. This shows that the relationship between intelligent quotient levels and crime is not inclined on a particular side since individuals with high IQ levels are involved in criminal activities. The research found out that the intelligent quotient levels varied depending on the type and seriousness of the crime committed. This is as results of individuals with high levels of IQ were convicted of minor crimes. However, the persons whose intelligent quotient levels were below average were convicted with major crimes such as murder, robbery and sex offences. This trend was also evident among the children in the Juvenile facility. Children convicted with serious crimes had low intelligent quotient levels while those convicted with minor offences hand quite impressive intelligent quotient levels. The IQ levels in the control group were normal. This clearly shows that IQ levels in the individuals contribute in the probability crime. The research was in agreement with the hypothesis, but further research would be made in case a null hypothesis arises. Limitation The study is done in a prison set up and the method used to choose the members is random. This implies that the probability of selecting individuals with similar crime records is high. Future research should be carried out in different locations and clear participants selection criteria should be used to enhance credibility and accuracy of the results. For example, the use of simple taxonomy system such as; the age, gender, circumstances that led to the crime and crime would serve in enhancing the accuracy of the study. Conclusion The research clearly shows that crime relates to the levels of intelligent quotient. This, therefore, supports the hypothesis of the research, therefore, making the research valid. The findings of the research, however, indicate that the levels of intelligent quotient determine the crime committed by the individual. The research was, therefore, in support of the literature arguing of the existence of a relationship between crime and intelligent quotient levels. References Cunningham, M. S. (2010). Inmate homicides: Killers, victims, motives, and circumstances. Journal of Criminal Justice , 348-358. Herrnstein, R. J. (1994). The bell curve: Intelligence and class structure in American life. New York: Free Press. Hirschi, T. H. (1977). Intelligence and delinquency: A revisionnist review. American Sociological Review , 571-587. Kandel, E. M.-S. (1988). IQ as a protective factor for subjects at high risk for antisocial behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 224-226. Raine, A. M.-L. (2005). Neurocognitive impairments in boys on the life-course persistent antisocial path. Journal of Abnormal Psychology , 38-49. Read More