Abstract

DEL PINO, Viviane  and  WERLANG, Blanca Susana Guevara. Problem-solving mental flexibility in individuals who were convicted for murder. Psicol. Reflex. Crit. [online]. 2008, vol.21, n.1, pp. 142-150. ISSN 0102-7972.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722008000100018.

This study aimed at assessing problem-solving mental flexibility in individuals who were convicted for qualified murder, and confined in a medium-security prison within the Metropolitan Area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The quantitative cross-research study had a convenience sample (n=60) including 30 homicides, paired by gender, age, schooling and social class to 30 individuals who had no criminal records. Assessment instruments used were Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; Stroop Color and Word Test, WAIS-III Block Design, Digit-Symbol Coding and Vocabulary subtests, a Mini-International Psychiatric Interview and a socio-demographic datasheet. In the WCST categories and in the Stroop Test, the group of homicides showed lower scores than the control group with a statistically significant difference (p<0,05). It is concluded that individuals convicted for qualified murder show lower problem-solving flexibility, than the individuals having no criminal records.

Keywords : Qualified murder; problem-solving flexibility; Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; Stroop Color and Word Test.