A Comparison of White-Collar Offenders and Non-White-Collar Offenders on the Psychological Variables of Personality, Criminal Thinking, and Psychopathy

The first purpose of this study was to replicate Walters and Geyer (2004) by examining how white-collar offenders differ from non-white-collar offenders on criminal thinking styles and lifestyle criminality. The second purpose was to examine the psychopathic characteristics of white-collar offenders in comparison to non-white-collar offenders. The third purpose was to explore the psychopathology of white-collar offenders compared to non-white-collar offenders. The study sample included 48 white-collar only offenders (offenders that only committed white-collar crime), 89 white-collar versatile offenders (offenders that have previously committed non-white-collar crime), and 89 non-white-collar offenders. Groups were matched on age and ethnicity. All participants completed the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS), the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R), and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). The Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form (LCSF) was completed using participants' Presentence Investigation Reports (PSIs). Results demonstrated white-collar only offenders had lower scores on the PICTS Sentimentality scale and LCSF. Additionally, white-collar offenders scored higher on PPI-R subscales (i.e., Social Potency and Machiavellian Egocentricity) and PAI scales (i.e., Alcohol Problems and Anxiety-Related Disorders). Non-white-collar offenders had higher scores on the PAI Drug Problems scale. Logistic regression findings demonstrated PAI Drug and Alcohol Problem scales distinguished white-collar versatile and non-white-collar offenders. White-collar only offenders were differentiated from non-white-collar offenders by the PAI Anxiety-Related Disorders scale, PAI Drug Problems scale, PAI Alcohol Problems scale, and PPI-R total score. The logistic regression model was not significant for distinguishing white-collar only and white-collar versatile offenders. Research findings have implications for treatment practices with white-collar offenders.