Exploring the Validity of Eysenck's PEN and Five-Factor Personality Models in Prisoners

Hans J. Eysenck developed personality descriptions based on what he saw as physiological causes of personality to behavioral effects. He developed questionnaires that incorporated the concept of extraversion-introversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism to develop his 3-factor model (Module 3: Constitutional Approach.). This model is known as the PEN model. A five-factor model is an approach that was created based off of factors that many personality researchers have found within their own studies. Costa and McCrae are very well known for the OCEAN model. OCEAN is an acronym for openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (Module 3: Constitutional Approach.).

"Personality structure among prisoners: How valid is the five-factor model, and can it offer support for Eysenck 's theory of criminality?" is a study that was created as a result of another study done before it. The previous study was based on research of offenders with the use of a

Both samples included category B prisoners. All participants of the study completed the International Personality Item Pool Big Five Factor Markers (IPIP) to access their personality. The IPIP is comprised of 50 items with answers based on a scale of 1 to 5. This test is one that can be accessed by anyone for free and is very broad. Because of its ease of access and broadness, it may not be the most reliable in an uncontrolled environment. The participants were also told the nature and the purpose of the study beforehand resulting in the possibility of lying or exaggeration. Other measures that could have been included in the study would be a wider range of sample participants, the use of participants that did not willingly agree to participate, a wider age range amongst participants and the addition of the opposite