A comparative study of criminals and non-criminal on physiological correlates (Heart rate and galvanic skin response)

Pages: 62-65
Dinesh Singh (Department of Psychology, Govt. College, Baund Kalan, Bhiwani, Haryana)

The present investigation was made to study the physiological correlates of criminal behaviour. The objective of the study was to compare criminals and non-criminals on physiological correlates (Heart Rate & Galvanic Skin Response). It was hypothesized that criminals would have a significantly lower basal / aroused heart rate and skin conductance activity than non-criminals. For the study of physiological correlates of criminal behaviour two group design was adopted group I (n = 100) consisting of criminals and group II (n = 100) consisting of non-criminals (normal subjects). Criminals were inmates of District Jail, Rohtak under section 302 and 307 and non-criminal from general population. The two groups consisted of 25-35 years old, semi-literate from rural as well urban background. They were matched on socidemographic variables. These groups were tested on two physiological indices i.e. Heart Rate (HRL) and Galvanic skin response (GSR). Heart Rate Level (HRL) was measured by Pulse Monitor and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) was measured using Automatic Digital Multimeter. HRL and GSR were measured in terms of basal value and arousal. The data were analysed by employing t-test for heart rate and x2 for GSR for analyzing the significance of difference between two groups. It was found that criminal differed significantly from non-criminal on arousal level as measured on heart rate but on basal level was not found significant. Criminals were found differed significantly from non-criminals on GSR.