Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine how effective two nonverbal psychological tests are in providing an accurate criminological diagnosis: the Attention-Perception Test (Toulouse-Piéron's Test) and the Gibson Spiral Maze Test (Gibson's Test). We studied 144 subjects (95 male and 49 female) ranging in age from 12 to 21 years, all of whom were either from centers under the administration of the juvenile court or the provincial prison of Granada (Spain). A control group of 218 schoolchildren aged 11 to 18 years (101 male and 117 female) from 4 schools located in areas of different socioeconomic status was also studied.

Our results showed that impulsivity and attention-perception appear to be complementary traits which provide information useful for criminological prognosis.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
psychiatry, jurisprudence, juvenile delinquency, human behavior

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