The nature versus nurture debate has been ongoing for decades, and we can’t say for sure if one will ever beat the other. Much of our personality is engrained and seen from as early as our infant years, but how we are raised molds that personality into how we express ourselves as teens and, later, as adults. We’re considering both today as this video presents the 7 traits – some engrained and others taught – that make you more likely to end up on the front page of tomorrow’s news… in a bad way. If you have these 7 traits, you’re more likely to be a criminal!
1. Deviant childhood behaviors.
If you were an annoying teen who often fought with mom and dad, you aren’t automatically more likely to end up locked up, but deviant behaviors are a red flag for those growing up with growing pains. Deviant behavior is not just socially unacceptable. Picking my nose in public is not socially acceptable, but it isn’t deviant… it’s just kind of wrong and gross.
You may have expressed some deviant behavior if you used or sold drugs, stole, got into physical fights with others, drank excessively, or even developed some clinical disorders. Being diagnosed with Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or even ADHD in some cases could contribute and add to the association between a personality and criminal behavior.
2. A negative relationship with your dad.
Some of us have daddy issues, recognize them, and use them to grow as adults. Others are unfortunately wrapped up in messed-up relationships with their biological father that affect them way more than anyone could imagine. This is a tough one because no one asks for a messed up parental relationship, but, boy oh boy, are there a lot out there. A quick shout out to the dads who do show up for their kids and help them grow. Thank you.
If you were unlucky enough to experience a rough connection – or lack of a connection altogether – with your dad, I’m sorry. This doesn’t mean you’re automatically on track for a bad rap, but it could make other negative experiences more likely and, as a result, make you more likely to respond negatively to everything life throws at you.
Unlike any parental issues, I hope you and I – and this channel – can maintain our positive relationship. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to keep the positive vibes going. You know I appreciate you!
3. Physical discipline as a child.
Thirty years ago no one would bat an eye at a parent whopping a child’s butt for bad behavior. Since the 90s, though, robust research has shown that the risks associated with corporal punishment are immense. In fact, 191 countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which greatly limited all physical punishment for kids. These studies have shown that “normative” physical punishment has a strong link between child aggression, delinquency, and even spousal assault later in life.
4. High impulsivity.
This one is one of the least shocking. Criminals are often caught in the act because they do something without thinking. The less impulse control you have, the more likely you are to act out of fear, greed, anger, or some other negative emotion. This is directly tied to emotional intelligence and maturity. Think of the last time you got angry. Did you do what you immediately felt? If your answer is yes, you probably have higher impulsivity and didn’t get a great result from your response. Impulsivity can also be seen in situations where you’re invited to do something risky and choose to do so, even though you can look back and say that it was the opposite of the smart thing to do.
5. Lower anxiety.
Here’s one of the shockers; And yes, you heard me right. Criminals tend to have lower anxiety levels compared to non-criminals. Here’s why.
Through other studies, anxiety was found to be a consequence of offending behavior, not an antecedent. Anxiety does not overlap with the definition of delinquency, and high levels of anxiety are more likely to shut down a person’s behavior instead of instigating it.
It makes sense if you think about it. Think about the last time you felt anxious, if ever. Did you want to lash out and express yourself or crawl into a corner and hide from all pressures and presences? I would bet on the second one.
6. Greater negativity and hostility.
Hostile personalities equal a higher likelihood of expressed aggression. If I’m an angry, violent person, I am more prone to be violent with others or break items. Simple math, right? Moving on to negativity.
Having a pessimistic personality does more than just make your day a bummer; it’s more likely to lead you to our seventh trait.
7. An external locus of control.
If you’ve never heard of this before, two psychological concepts describe how we see the world. You either have an internal locus of control or an external one.
Having an internal locus of control is the goal. It means you believe that your actions and choices control your life’s outcomes. It gives you the reigns on where your life ends up.
An external locus of control, on the other hand, means you think your life is where it is because of fate, luck, or other people. People with this belief tend to blame their circumstances on the things around them and not on their own actions. Criminals tend to have this type of perspective and always play the blame game for their actions. It’s not often that one will say, “I did wrong. I’m sorry,” and never again make the same mistake.
Conclusion:
Life circumstances determine a lot about the direction we go, but at the end of the day the decisions we make ultimately decide where we end up. Most of the seven traits that make you more likely to be a criminal are traits you can change or work on. If you find yourself in a negative space with a rough childhood background, this doesn’t condemn you to the life of a criminal – after all, thinking that would be an external locus of control! We can all work at bettering ourselves and our lives, which is what I hope we can do together every day.