| Abstract: | Carried out a carefully controlled comparison of the personality characteristics of heroin addict (n = 27) and nonaddict (n = 20) offenders to avoid methodological problems associated with earlier studies. Ss had a minimum of a 6th-grade education and IQs in the normal range. Age at 1st arrest, educational achievement test scores, number of prior arrests, IQ, religion, and marital status were used as covariates in a statistical control design; blind data collection and scoring procedures were employed; and the 2 groups were compared on 34 personality variables. Significant differences were obtained on 7 variables but upon examination were interpreted as failing to provide sufficient support for the addictive personality hypothesis. Results underscore the importance of careful control in studies of this nature. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
