FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY Rom J Leg Med [29] 227-231 [2021] DOI: 10.4323/rjlm.2021.227 © 2021 Romanian Society of Legal Medicine 227 PERSONALITY TRAITS AS PREDICTOR OF CRIME Cristian Delcea 1 , Alexandra Enache 2,* 1 “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, 2 “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania Abstract: Researches and practitioners have long tried to identify potential predictors of crime. In this study, psychoticism, extraversion, neuroticism, trait criminality and addiction are investigated as predictors of crime. Using a sample of 492 adults (half in penitentiary, half not), with a mean age of 34 years, this study found that trait criminality and addiction are linked to a higher probability of having committed a crime. However, no efect is found for psychoticism, extraversion, neuroticism and having committed a crime. Future research is needed to replicate these fndings and assess the link between personality and specifc types of crimes. Keywords: psychopathological personality traits, crime, personality. *Correspondence to: Enache Alexandra, MD, PhD, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania, E-mail: esanda2000@yahoo.com INTRODUCTION Eforts have been made to identify the personality traits that favor “criminal behaviour” (Eriksson et al., 2017; Krueger et al., 1994). Te Eysenck three-factor model of personality, a grounding theory of antisocial behaviour, describes vulnerability to committing crime through three personality dimensions: (1) psychoticism, describing individuals as aggressive, selfsh, and impulsive, (2) neuroticism describing a maladaptive self, chronic fear, and a tendency towards mood swings, and (3) extroversion describing a tendency to seek out new and intense sensations and show dominance in social relationships. High levels of these traits are usually found in individuals with a history of incarceration, repetitive criminal fnes, and penalties for delinquency. Empirical research supports the association between personality traits and delinquent behavior. Higher participation in delinquent behaviours was associated with a personality confguration characterized by mood disorders, dysfunctional negative emotions, and difculties with controlling impulses (Caspi et al., 2006). For example, Longato- Stadler et al., (2002) referred to Caufman’s studies (Caufman et al., 2016) on psychopathological personality traits, who conducted a study of 130 male detainees in Swedish prisons convicted of serious crime. Tey found high scores on the Karolinska Personality Scales (used to asses personality) for impulsivity, hostility and aggression, sensation seeking, tension and nervous stress, and cognitive-social anxiety. Te authors found low scores on the socialization scale, which refects a high degree of personality traits related to psychopathy. Similarly, more recent studies showed that lower levels of emotionality (i.e., neuroticism) and lower agreeableness are associated with criminal behavior (Međedović, 2017; O’Riordan, & O’Connell, 2014). Further, research also links addiction (e.g., use of psychoactive substances, alcohol, gambling) to crime and delinquent behavior (Brochu et al., 2001; Jennings et al., 2015; Lind et al., 2015). As shown by Fehrman et al., (2019) on 1885 respondents (drug users), certain personality traits (i.e., impulsivity and sensations seeking) are also stronger in substance abusers compared to non-consumers. Finally, trait criminality, describing a tendency to ignore the desires and rights of others is also considered to be linked with crime and recidivism (Pitariu et al., 2008) Tis paper aims to assess the association of personality traits and crime. It will build and extend on previous research by evaluating not only the three