INTELLIGENCE DIMENSIONS INFLUENCING DIGITAL CRIME AMONG YOUTHS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated intelligence dimensions influencing digital crime among youths in Anambra State, Nigeria. The rate with which Nigerian youths get involved in digital crimes is alarming. Unemployment is usually attributed as the cause. This study explored the psychological intelligence and its dimensions as possible perspectives that may have been neglected. Participants included 100 youths in Anambra State, Nigeria, selected using a simple random sampling technique. Two instruments were utilized for this study namely Intelligence Prowess Inventory by Nwankwo (2026), and Digital/Cyber Crime Scale by Nwankwo (2026). The instruments had good psychometric properties. The study adopted a correlational design, testing the two hypotheses using Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation. The findings reveal that the intelligence prowess of Nigerian youths positively but non-significantly correlated with digital/cybercrime (p< 0.01< 0.769, r = 0.030, N = 100). However, the dimensions of intelligence prowess namely “mental aptitude” (p> 0.01> 0.000, r = 0.767, N = 100), “emotional intelligence” (P< 0.01> 0.000, r = 0.845, N = 100), “social intelligence” (P< 0.01> 0.000, r = 0.862, N = 100), “adversity intelligence” (P< 0.01> 0.000, r = 0.802, N = 100), and “creative intelligence” (P< 0.01> 0.000, r = 0.841, N = 100) positively and significantly correlated with digital/cybercrime, indicating roles of the dimensions in digital/cybercrime, indicating the roles of these dimensions in digital/cybercrime. The study suggests the need for targeted interventions and educational programs to address and mitigate the influence of intelligence dimensions on digital crime among youths.