Personality Traits of Female Prisoners in Relation to their Adjustment Problems

The purpose of the present study was to measure some selected personality traits and adjustment problems of the female criminals. It was also the aim to study the relationship between the adjustment problems and personality traits of introversion/extraversion and neuroticism of female criminals. It was hypothesised that significant relationship would be established between the adjustment problems and the personality traits of female criminals. In order to achieve these objectives, 200 female prisoners from Patiala Central Jail and Ludhiana Women' Jail were administered three inventories;i,e; (i) Neuroticism and Introversion-Extroversion Inventory by Muhar, Bhatia & Kapoor; (ii) Bell's Adjustment Inventory adapted by Dr. Ojha and (iii) Marital Adjustment Questionnaire by Kumar & Rohatgi. The results of the study reveal that (i) female prisoners are neurotic and extrovert, but most of these were maladjusted, (ii) positive relationship has been found between neuroticism and adjustment; but not with marital adjustment. Introversion-extroversion has no relationship with adjustment and marital adjustment of the female prisoners; (iii) adjustment of the female prisoners has positive relationship with personality traits and marital adjustment, (iv) marital adjustment has no relationship with personality traits but has a positive and significant relationship with all areas of general adjustment.