Abstract
While research indicates offenders have IQ scores approximately eight points below the population average of 100, very little
is known about the crimes of individuals with above-average IQ scores. The current research is not limited to acts of family
violence, but it describes the self-reported offending of 465 high-IQ subjects for eight violent crimes: robbery, carrying
a concealed weapon, making a serious threat, serious assault, homicide, constructing an explosive device, kidnapping, and
attempting suicide. Rates of prevalence and incidence are reported and compared to the rates from a control group of 756 individuals
with average IQ scores. High-IQ subjects reported higher rates of prevalence, incidence, and arrest, but lower levels of conviction,
than controls. A significant positive correlation exists for offenders between IQ score and lifetime incidence rate for robbery,
homicide, and kidnapping, and a significant negative correlation exists between IQ score and incidence of attempted suicide.
is known about the crimes of individuals with above-average IQ scores. The current research is not limited to acts of family
violence, but it describes the self-reported offending of 465 high-IQ subjects for eight violent crimes: robbery, carrying
a concealed weapon, making a serious threat, serious assault, homicide, constructing an explosive device, kidnapping, and
attempting suicide. Rates of prevalence and incidence are reported and compared to the rates from a control group of 756 individuals
with average IQ scores. High-IQ subjects reported higher rates of prevalence, incidence, and arrest, but lower levels of conviction,
than controls. A significant positive correlation exists for offenders between IQ score and lifetime incidence rate for robbery,
homicide, and kidnapping, and a significant negative correlation exists between IQ score and incidence of attempted suicide.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- Pages 1-16
- DOI 10.1007/s10896-012-9468-7
- Authors
- J. C. Oleson, Department of Sociology, University of Auckland, Level 9, HSB Building, 10 Symonds Street, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142 New Zealand
- Rachael Chappell, Faculties of Law and Arts, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Journal Journal of Family Violence
- Online ISSN 1573-2851
- Print ISSN 0885-7482