Determination of the Minimum Age of Obtaining Ability of Control and Applying Emotions in Iranian Adolescents (Proposed Basis for Determining of Criminal Responsibility)

Puberty is determined as a condition for criminal responsibility in the Islamic Penal Code of Iran. This study was done to determine the minimum age of ability of control and applying emotions as a proposed basis for determining criminal responsibility. In a pilot study some indicators of emotional quotient were evaluated in Iranian persons in the ages between 16 to 25 in three different areas of Iran by using Bar- on questionnaire. The sample was 420 persons, both female and male, 140 samples in each area. The data were analyzed through SPSS 15 software. According to the results, the minimum age for developing abilities such as problem solving, stress tolerance, emotional self awareness, reality, self confidence, social responsibility and impulse control is 21 for males and 18 for females. In other words, the persons obtain abilities to distinguish and control of their own behavior. It seems Iranian adolescents in the age of puberty have not enough social and psychological abilities for avoiding criminal behaviors. The results of our study offer further researches for determining criminal age by emphasizing emotional quotient indicators.