The impact of imprisonment on selected attitudes of recidivists and first offenders

Abstract

435statistically significant with a probability of less than .lo. The usual .05 level of statistical significance was not reached in this study. The size of the scale mean differences were so small-being 1.08 points on a 20 item scale at maximum-that the best conclusion to be drawn from these results is that the two groups differ only slightly on the average. Thus, the results are consistent with those reviewed by Lukianowicz(*) in which he indicated that while a transvestite may be neurotic or psychotic, he is no more prone to neurotic or psychotic tendencies than any other non-transvestite. SUMMARYReplies to a standard psychopathological inventory were obtained from 176 transvestites and 74 control Ss. The transvestites represent a sample obtained nationally through the cooperation of a transvestites' organization. A discriminant function analysis comparing the mean scores on 19 scales for transvestites and controls revealed that the groups could be differentiated a t only a marginal level of statistical significance. There were no gross differences detectable between transvestites and controls on neurotic or psychotic scales.