Validation of A Typology of Pakistani Criminals Based On Social Psychological Factors

The purpose of this investigation was to compare two models of the classifications of criminals in terms of their psychological meaningfulness. 220 male convicts randomly selected from Pakistani prisons were inter­ viewed in depth. On the basis of information obtained, the convicts were classified in terms of the traditional model based on the type of crime: against person versus against property. The same group was again classified in two groups of professional and non professional criminals on the basis of an analysis of certain social and psychological factors like convicts' perso­nalities, attitudes, offence patterns and interactional settings in which their crimes took place. The two groups based on each model were compared on a number of psychological variables indicating adversity during childhood and adolescence. The model based on social psychological factors seems to make better discrimination. The findings are discussed in terms of the cultural conditions of Pakistan, and implications for research and handling of convicts have been pointed out.