Female Criminals: Their Personal, Familial, and Social Backgrounds

AMONG convicted male felons, the prevalence of sociopathy, alcoholism, and drug dependency is increased.¹,²An increased prevalence of these same conditions and of hysteria is found among the felons' first-degree relatives: hysteria in the female relatives, and the others predominantly in the male relatives.³On the other hand, family studies of women with hysteria show an increased prevalence of hysteria in the female relatives, and of sociopathy and alcoholism in the male relatives.⁴,⁵In addition, Robins⁶reported that 20 of 76 girls referred to a child guidance clinic between the ages of 12 and 16 because of antisocial behavior received a diagnosis of hysteria as adults. Finally, Forrest⁷noted that some patients with hysteria, as defined in this study, would in Great Britain be diagnosed as hysterical psychopaths or psychopathic personalities. He presented data indicating significant antisocial behavior and alcohol or drug abuse in such