The relationship between amnesia and crime: the role of personality

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of personality factors in crime-related amnesia. It was hypothesised that personality factors, such as introversion and good impulse control, would be associated with increased likelihood of psychogenic amnesia. The subjects were 37 offenders referred for a psychiatric evaluation, 18 of whom claimed partial amnesia for the offence. Their scores on a number of psychological tests were compared with the offenders who did not claim amnesia for the offence. Introversion, good impulse control and blaming the offence on mental factors, were significantly related to the reporting of amnesia for the offence. Over-controlled hostility and the scores on lie scales were not associated with the reporting of amnesia.