Influence of Personality Traits and Age on Attitude towards Crime among Adolescents in Makurdi Metropolis
Edward Kuruku & Yuah Simon
Department of Psychology
Benue State University Makurdi
Email: edwardkuruku@gmail.com
Corresponding Author: Edward Kuruku
ABSTRACT
The study explored the influence of personality traits and age on attitudes towards crime among adolescents in Makurdi metropolis. A cross sectional survey design was adopted for the study. A total of 228 participants were randomly selected from the study area. The participants’ age ranged from 10 years – 18 years and above. Out of the 228 participants, 134 (54.9%) were males, while 110 (45.1%) participants were females. The personality traits scale (PTS) and attitudes towards crime questionnaire (ACQ) were used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using dependent t-test, one-way ANOVA and linear regression analysis. Three (3) hypotheses were formulated. The result of the first hypothesis revealed significant influence of personality traits on attitudes towards crime among adolescents in Makurdi metropolis. The second hypothesis showed a significant age difference in attitudes towards crime among adolescents in Makurdi metropolis. Lastly, result revealed that, there is a joint influence of personality traits and age on attitude towards crime among adolescents in Makurdi metropolis. All the hypotheses were confirmed. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended among others that parents must learn to study and control those personality characteristics that may predispose their children towards deviant behaviour, because a positive attitude towards a behaviour may likely lead to such a behaviour. Finally, individual and situational factors that will help improve the desired personality characteristics should be encouraged.
Keywords: Influence, personality, traits, age, attitude, crime, adolescents, Makurdi.
