Personality subtypes among driving-while-intoxicated offenders: Relationship to drinking behavior and driving risk.

Abstract

The present study investigated the empirical derivation of clinically and theoretically meaningful subtypes among males arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Five subtypes were defined through cluster analysis of driving-attitudinal, personality, and hostility measures. Two subtypes were found to have particularly high levels of risk-enhancing traits. The first was characterized by the highest levels of depression and resentment as well as the lowest levels of assertiveness, emotional adjustment, and perceived control. The second was characterized by the highest levels of driving-related aggression, competitive speed, sensation seeking, assaultiveness, irritability, and indirect and verbal hostility. Subsequent analyses indicated that these two subtypes also were of lower social position, were heavier drinkers, and had higher risks of accident involvement in comparison to the remaining clusters. The results are discussed with respect to the need for differential assessment and treatment approaches when dealing with a DWI population.