Recidivism Among a White-Collar Sample: Does Personality Matter?

Abstract

W ith the exception of correctional research, the role of personality has been understudied in criminology in general and in the study of white-collar crime in particular. The usefulness of personality has typically been restricted to use as a diagnostic tool in differentiating among offenders for correctional classification purposes. The current research focuses on a sample of white-collar offenders who were convicted in federal courts to explain what role personality plays in explaining their rates of recidivism. Using the Jesness Inventory as a measure of personality, findings reveal that personality type is a significant predictor of offender recidivism with neurotic personality type significantly predicting probability of rearrest.

Revisiting the Special Sensitivity Hypothesis: The Prison Experience of White-Collar Inmates

“…That is, offenders were identified according to their crimes rather than their individual characteristics. This method of identifying whitecollar offenders has been used by a number of prominent white-collar crime investigations (see Benson, 1982;Benson & Kerley, 2001;Benson & Walker, 1988;Forst & Rhodes, 1978;Hagan et al, 1980;Listwan, Piquero, & Van Voorhis, 2010;Nagel & Hagan, 1982;Walters & Geyer, 2004;Weisburd et al, 1991;Wheeler, Weisburd, & Bode, 1982). Cases were placed into the white-collar offense category if the offense for which the offender was imprisoned was (1) consistently identified in previous research as a "white-collar" crime, and/or (2) the offense reasonably fit the offense-based definitions of white-collar crime proffered by Edelhertz (1970) or the United States Department of Justice (1989).…”

White Collar Crime: Recidivism, Deterrence, and Social Impact

“…There are a number of different factors that can impact recidivism, including genetics, individual personality and values, and deterrence/previous punishment. Personality is generally used in determining correctional classification, however research shows it is also "a significant predictor of offender recidivism with neurotic personality type significantly predicting probability of rearrest" [16]. Another element similar to personality is the motivation for committing the crime.…”

White Collar Criminals: The State of Knowledge

“…Related to the discussion of motivation is the issue of personality (Listwan, et al, 2010;Cleff, 2013). There is consensus within the literature that some specific personality traits recur in white-collar criminality.…”

“…A rather general observation is that white-collar criminals tend to have lower levels of conscientiousness, agreeableness, and self-restraint compared to white-collar professionals in general. In addition, white collar offenders also tend to be more anxious, neurotic, and extroverted than white collar professionals in general (Alalehto, 2003;Blickle et al, 2006;Collins & Bagozzi, 1999;Collins & Schmidt, 2006;Feeley, 2006;Ragatz & Fremouw, 2010;Listwan et al, 2010).…”