Comparison of Executive Functions in Offenders and Non-Offenders: A Meta-Analysis

Year 2024, Volume: 21 Issue: 1, 44 - 60, 31.01.2024

Mustafa Talha Türel Hüseyin Arslan Esra Çetinöz

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1400525

Abstract

Executive function is one of the structures that explain aggressive and violent behavior. However, the existing literature has inconsistencies regarding criminal behavior due to the division of executive functions into three constructs: inhibition, monitoring, and task shifting. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to assess the effect of executive functions on criminal behavior and the second aim is to examine the impact of executive functions on different crime types. The research is based on a meta-analysis of 17 studies which were selected upon the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The meta-analysis involved calculating individual effect sizes for each study and then the overall effect size was calculated by using the random effects model. Then subgroup analyses were conducted to evaluate the differences due to crime types and psychological assessment tools. The results revealed that offenders made more errors in tasks involving executive functions than non-offenders and the findings were consistent with the literature. Additionally, no publication bias was found in the study. It is expected that this study will lay the groundwork for future studies.The research is based on a meta-analysis of 17 studies which were selected upon the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The meta-analysis involved calculating individual effect sizes for each study and then the overall effect size was calculated by using the random effects model. Then subgroup analyses were conducted to evaluate the differences due to crime types and psychological assessment tools. The results revealed that offenders made more errors in tasks involving executive functions than non-offenders and the findings were consistent with the literature. Additionally, no publication bias was found in the study. It is expected that this study will lay the groundwork for future studies.

Keywords

executive function, criminality, metaanalysis, impulsivity, cognition

Ethical Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. All co-authors have seen and agree with the contents of the manuscript and there is no financial interest to report.

Suçlular ve Suçsuzlar Arasında Yürütücü İşlevlerin Karşılaştırılması: Bir Meta-Analiz

Abstract

Yönetici işlevler, saldırgan ve şiddet içeren davranışları açıklayan yapılardan biridir. Ancak mevcut literatür, yönetici işlevlerin ketleme, izleme ve görev değiştirme olmak üzere üç yapıya ayrılması nedeniyle suç davranışı konusunda tutarsızlıklara sahiptir. Bu çalışmada yönetici işlevlerin suçluluk üzerindeki etkisinin ortaya konması amaçlanmıştır. Bununla birlikte, bu çalışmanın ikinci amacı da önceki çalışmalara ek olarak yönetici işlevlerin suç davranışlarına olan etkisini suç türlerine göre kategorize ederek incelemektir. Çalışmada meta-analiz için gerekli verilerin toplanması amacıyla öncelikle uygun anahtar kelimeler kullanılarak literatür taraması yapılmıştır. Dışlama ve dahil etme kriterlerine göre 17 çalışmaya ulaşılmıştır. Daha sonra 17 ayrı çalışmadan elde edilen verilerin etki büyüklükleri hesaplanmıştır. Sonrasında rastgele etkiler modeline göre genel etki büyüklüğü hesaplanmıştır. Son olarak, suç türleri ve psikolojik değerlendirme araçlarındaki farklılıklara göre alt grup analizleri yapılmıştır. Bulgular, suçlu bireylerin kontrol gruplarına göre yönetici işlevler içeren görevlerde daha fazla hata yaptıklarına işaret etmektedir. Ayrıca çalışmada yayın yanlılığına rastlanmamıştır. Çalışma, suçlu grubunun yönetici işlevlerde kontrol grubuna göre daha düşük performans gösterdiği sonucuna varmıştır. Elde edilen bulguların literatürle uyumlu olduğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın gelecek çalışmalara zemin hazırlaması beklenmektedir.

Keywords

Yönetici İşlevler, Suçun Önlenmesi, Metaanaliz, Dürtüsellik, Biliş

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