A Comparison of the Personality Characteristics of Delinquent and Non-Delinquent Juveniles of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The current paper aims to compare the personality characteristics of delinquent and non-delinquent juveniles of Tehran. For this purpose, a sample volume of 100 individuals from which 50 ones were selected by available sampling method from the delinquent juvenile population of Tehran correctional center and the other 50 individuals were selected by random sampling method from non-delinquent juvenile population of Tehran high schools. Research materials include NEO-FFI Personality Questionnaire that after being administered to both groups, the statistical parametric independent t test method was applied to confirm or reject the research hypotheses. The research findings suggest significant differences between the delinquent and non-delinquent juveniles from the aspects of neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. But there were no meaningful differences between the two groups related to extroversion and four hypotheses out of five were confirmed. Consequently the delinquent juveniles possess more neuroticism and less openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness compared to the non-delinquent juveniles.