Personality and Socio-Demographic Correlates of Criminal Behaviour among Convicted Prison Inmates in Lafia Prison, Nasarawa State – Nigeria Nalah, Bala Augustine Faculty of Social Sciences, Psychology Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria Online published on 7 May, 2014. Abstract The study explored the personality and socio-demographic correlates of criminal behaviour among convicted prison inmates in Lafia Prison, Nasarawa State. This suggests the possibility of whether certain personality traits in relation to environmental and social forces actually predisposes and influences an individual positively or negatively to committing crime. To justify that, three hypotheses were designed and tested in establishing relationship between personality and some demographic characteristics of criminal behaviour. Correlation design was adopted to establish the relationships. From the population of four hundred and seven six (476) the researcher randomly selected two hundred and four (204) participants for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used for the selected of sample. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) for Adult was adopted as an instrument in testing the hypotheses and the following results were obtained as stated thus: There has been statistical relationship between Neuroticism and Age; there has been statistical relationship between Personality trait (Extroversion) and Gender; and there was a statistical significant relationship between Psychoticism and Educational Level. It is therefore recommended that, systematic classification and placement of prison inmates based on the demographic characteristic; exposure of prison inmates to positive social environment; and the application of cognitive-behavioral therapy and social support system targets thinking and problem solving through a system of reinforcement, prosaically modeling, and role-playing will modify and rehabilitate the aggressive stereotypic behaviour of the inmates in Lafia Prison, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Top Keywords Personality trait, psychoticism, neuroticism, extraversion, educational attainment, criminal behaviour, prison inmates, prison. Top |