Seasonal changes in rule infractions among prisoners: a preliminary test of the temperature-aggression hypothesis.

C. Haertzen, K. Buxton, L. Covi, H. Richards

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

To test the temperature-aggression hypothesis, seasonal changes in aggression as indexed by reported rule infractions were studied for prisoners located at the Patuxent Institution, Jessup, Maryland. 5383 reports of rule infractions occurred between July 1987 and March 1991. Rule infractions occurred more frequently during the hot summer months than the three other seasons of the year. This summer effect, though significant, is only a few percent above a theoretical chance level based on the number of days comprising the seasons. A much stronger monthly effect over 45 months was found, but the bases of erratic fluctuations are not known.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)195-200
Number of pages6
JournalPsychological reports
Volume72
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychology(all)

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