The Japanese Journal of Criminal Psychology

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Purpose & Procedure: To study the mental structure of juvenile accident drivers, Group Intelligence Test and Uchida-Kraepelin Test were administered to 319 boys. 22 variables were picked out of two tests, and on the basis of correlation(Pearson’s r)obtained between them, factor analytical method was applied using Thurstone’s centroid method.

Subjects: A total of 319 subjects is devided into 3 groups as follows; Group I, 80 collision-from-behind accident drivers (males aged from 17 to 19). Group II, 79 speed violators (males aged from 17 to 19). Group III, (control group), 160 third year students of technical high school and of general high school (aged from 17 to 19).

Results: (1) There is significant discrimination in mean scores with each variable between Group I and Group III, but not between Group I and Group II. It is infered that accident drivers and speed violators could be of the same group. However, the factor structure of Group II and that of Group III are same, while the factor structure of Group I is not.

(2) Two factors characterizing Group I, are named “the factor of mental ataxia,” and “the factor of insight-lacking and loose problem solving.”

(3) As the result of analyzing the cases deemed to represent the type of both factors above, the menbers of Group I are characterised to be hyperthymic, emotionally unstable and to behave recklessly. So it could possibly be said that the both factors may be related to personality factors. Further study is needed along this view-point.

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