PERSONALITY PREDICTORS OF SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY

The interrelationships between personality dimensions, negative attitudes toward authority figures, and self-reported delinquency were examined in two samples (n = 267 and n = 388) of Australian adolescents. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses with sets of independent variables revealed important sex differences with respect to the ability of the various personality factors as well as attitudes to authority to predict self-reported delinquency. For females, but not males, Eysenckian psychoticism seemed to act as a conduit for a variety of personality traits. In addition, social desirability appeared more pronounced among females than males. These findings are discussed with reference to the nature of the major Eysenckian personality dimensions.