Katarzyna Uzieblo

The Validity of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised in a Community Sample.

Research on the Psychopathic Personality Inventory—Revised (PPI-R) has revealed two factors: Fearless Dominance, and Self-Centered Impulsivity. This study examined the validity of these PPI-R factors in a community sample (N = 675). First, confirmatory factor analyses did not support the two-factor structure. Second, the PPI-R factors showed good convergent and discriminant validity with two other self-report measures of psychopathy, that is, the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory and Levenson’s Self-Report of Psychopathy. Third, PPI-R factors exhibited good external validity in relation to various theoretically relevant correlates. The results indicate that the PPI-R factors have good convergent, discriminant, and external validity, but confirmatory factor analysis raises concerns about the robustness of the two-factor structure.

Validity of the Self-Report Psychopathy Scales (SRP-III Full and Short Versions) in a community sample

The psychometric properties of the 64-item Self-Report Psychopathy Scale–III (SRP-III) and its abbreviated 28-item SRP–Short Form (SRP-SF) seem promising. Still, cross-cultural evidence for its construct validity in heterogeneous community samples remains relatively scarce. Moreover, little is known about the interchangeability of both instruments. The present study addresses these research gaps by comparing the SRP-III and SRP-SF factorial construct validity and nomological network in a Belgian community sample. The four-factor model of psychopathy was evaluated (N = 1,510) and the SRP scales’ relationship with various external correlates (i.e., attachment, bullying and victimization, right-wing attitudes, right-wing authoritarianism, and response styles) was examined (n = 210). Both SRP versions demonstrated a good fit for the four-factor model and a considerable overlap with the nomological network of psychopathy. The results suggested that the SRP-SF provides a viable alternative to the SRP-III for assessment in the community. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

The inverse relation between psychopathy and faking good: Not response bias but true variance in psychopathic personality

The possibility to assess psychopathy through self-report is debated, amongst others, because psychopathic individuals may deliberately underreport psychopathic features (fake good). Meta-analytic research has shown an inverse relation between faking good and self-reported psychopathy, possibly indicating that faking good lowered psychopathy scores (response bias). Low faking good scores, could, however, also reflect true variance in psychopathic personality to the extent that it reflects a disregard of social conventions. Through a secondary analysis (n = 675), we show that controlling for faking good significantly weakens, rather than strengthens, the associations between psychopathy scores and antisocial behavior (alcohol and drug abuse, indirect aggression, and delinquency). These findings indicate that the inverse relation between faking good and self-reported psychopathy reflects true variance in psychopathy personality (i.e. low social desirability), not a response bias.

Intelligent Diagnosing of Intellectual Disabilities in Offenders: Food for Thought

Research on offenders with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in the criminal justice arena is on the rise, reflected by a growing number of relevant publications each year. However, there is a long recognized methodological problem that hampers the comparability of empirical studies and that raises doubts about the accuracy of prevalence rates, comorbidities, and various correlates and characteristics. In this paper we will argue that the crux of the problem can, on the one hand, be found in the plurality of assessment methods for intelligence and adaptive functioning, which are not all sufficiently reliable and valid. On the other hand, assessment of IQ in criminal justice and mental health-related areas appears to be informed more by practical aspects and needs rather than grounded in a solid theoretical model. Hence, we suggest that the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of intelligence has potential value in this regard, and deserves a closer look. Finally, we will discuss its incorporation into, and possible implications for, criminal justice practice and future study designs.

Unwanted Pursuit Behavior After Breakup: Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Gender Differences

This study investigated unwanted pursuit behavior (UPB) perpetration in 631 adult ex-partners. UPB involves the unwanted pursuit of intimacy, a widespread and usually less severe form of stalking. The occurrence and various risk factors of UPB perpetration were examined, accounting for differences between male and female ex-partners and same- and opposite-gender ex-partners. Ex-partners showed on average five to six UPBs after their separation. Male and female and same- and opposite-gender ex-partners displayed an equal number of UPBs. The number of perpetrated UPBs was explained by breakup characteristics (ex-partner initiation of the breakup and rumination or cognitive preoccupation with the ex-partner), relationship characteristics (anxious attachment in the former relationship), and individual perpetrator characteristics (borderline traits and past delinquent behaviors). Rumination was a stronger predictor in female than male ex-partners. Borderline traits and anxious attachment positively predicted UPB perpetration in opposite-gender but not in same-gender ex-partners. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Intelligence is in the Eye of the Beholder: Investigating Repeated IQ Measurements in Forensic Psychiatry

BACKGROUND A stable assessment of cognition is of paramount importance for forensic psychiatric patients (FPP). The purpose of this study was to compare repeated measures of IQ scores in FPPs with and without intellectual disability. METHODS Repeated measurements of IQ scores in FPPs (n = 176) were collected. Differences between tests were computed, and each IQ score was categorized. Additionally, t-tests and regression analyses were performed. RESULTS Differences of 10 points or more were found in 66% of the cases comparing WAIS-III with RAVEN scores. Fishers exact test revealed differences between two WAIS-III scores and the WAIS categories. The WAIS-III did not predict other IQs (WAIS or RAVEN) in participants with intellectual disability. DISCUSSION This study showed that stability or interchangeability of scores is lacking, especially in individuals with intellectual disability. Caution in interpreting IQ scores is therefore recommended, and the use of the unitary concept of IQ should be discouraged.

Unwanted Behaviors and Nuisance Behaviors Among Neighbors in a Belgian Community Sample

Unwanted behaviors between (ex-)intimates have been extensively studied, while those behaviors within other contexts such as neighbors have received much less scientific consideration. Research indicates that residents are likely to encounter problem behaviors from their neighbors. Besides the lack of clarity in the conceptualization of problem behaviors among neighbors, little is known on which types of behaviors characterize neighbor problems. In this study, the occurrence of two types of problem behaviors encountered by neighbors was explored within a Belgian community sample: unwanted behaviors such as threats and neighbor nuisance issues such as noise nuisance. By clearly distinguishing those two types of behaviors, this study aimed at contributing to the conceptualization of neighbor problems. Next, the coping strategies used to deal with the neighbor problems were investigated. Our results indicated that unwanted behaviors were more frequently encountered by residents compared with nuisance problems. Four out of 10 respondents reported both unwanted pursuit behavior and nuisance problems. It was especially unlikely to encounter nuisance problems in isolation of unwanted pursuit behaviors. While different coping styles (avoiding the neighbor, confronting the neighbor, and enlisting help from others) were equally used by the stalked participants, none of them was perceived as being more effective in reducing the stalking behaviors. Strikingly, despite being aware of specialized help services such as community mediation services, only a very small subgroup enlisted this kind of professional help.

De IQ-score in twijfel getrokken: Evolutie naar een multidimensioneel cognitief vaardigheidsprofiel

SamenvattingEen foutieve of ontoereikende inschatting van het intellectueel functioneren kan verstrekkende gevolgen hebben binnen de forensische context. Niet zelden worden beschermings- en strafmaatregelen afgestemd op de intellectuele vaardigheden van de pleger. Een kwalitatieve bepaling van dit functioneren is dan ook van groot belang. Dit blijkt echter geen vanzelfsprekend gegeven te zijn. Een recente studie naar de stabiliteit van herhaalde IQ-metingen bij Vlaamse forensische patiënten (n = 176) (Habets et al., J Appl Res Intellect Disabil., 2014) geeft aan dat verschillende intelligentietesten en herhaalde metingen van eenzelfde intelligentietest niet steeds gelijkaardige resultaten opleveren. Scores verkregen op basis van intelligentietesten blijken dus niet zonder meer inwisselbaar te zijn. De huidige studie beoogt een kritische blik te werpen op de waarde van deze intelligentiemetingen en op de recente ontwikkelingen binnen dit veld. Meer specifiek worden de mogelijke oorzaken van de instabiliteit van IQ-scores besproken. Aansluitend worden de belangrijkste ontwikkelingen aangaande de diagnostiek van het intellectueel functioneren uiteengezet. Een gewijzigd denkkader treedt de laatste jaren immers meer en meer op de voorgrond, waarbinnen de klemtoon stelselmatig van een IQ-score naar het in kaart brengen van een breed cognitief vaardigheidsprofiel en het adaptief functioneren verschuift.

976 WHY PAIN IS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY OTHERS: AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS

Background and Aims: Research indicates an overall underestimation of pain by others. Given the important implications this may have for the management of pain, more insight into the process of pain underestimation is required. In this study, we aimed at investigating the influencing role of observer’s catastrophic thinking, dispositional empathy and psychopathy. Method: Participants were 33 student dyads (M=19.00 years, SD=2.21), of which one of both persons experienced pain by means of electric shocks while being observed by the other person. There were 24 trials, of which on 6 trials an electric shock at tolerance level was administered. No shocks were administered on the remaining trials. For each trial, observers were requested to indicate whether the other person received an electric shock (pain trial) or not (no-pain trial). Observers also reported on their catastrophizing thoughts (PCS), their degree of dispositional empathy (EQ en IRI) and psychopathy (SRP). Results: Using signal detection theory methods, observers’ sensitivity (d′) and response bias (C) for perceiving other’s pain were calculated. Correlation analyses revealed that only the scores (total score and sub scores) on the SRP yielded significant (negative) correlations with the two measures. Conclusion: Higher scores on psychopathy seem to be associated with a less accurate pain detection (d′) and a greater tendency to indicate that the other person is in pain (C). Although these results show an influence of psychopathy on the estimation of pain, other important determinants should be addressed in further research.

978 THREAT SIGNALS OF PAIN MODULATE DEFENSIVE RESPONSES IN OBSERVERS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL PARADIGM

Background and Aims: Research indicates an overall underestimation of pain by others. Given the important implications this may have for the management of pain, more insight into the process of pain underestimation is required. In this study, we aimed at investigating the influencing role of observer’s catastrophic thinking, dispositional empathy and psychopathy. Method: Participants were 33 student dyads (M=19.00 years, SD=2.21), of which one of both persons experienced pain by means of electric shocks while being observed by the other person. There were 24 trials, of which on 6 trials an electric shock at tolerance level was administered. No shocks were administered on the remaining trials. For each trial, observers were requested to indicate whether the other person received an electric shock (pain trial) or not (no-pain trial). Observers also reported on their catastrophizing thoughts (PCS), their degree of dispositional empathy (EQ en IRI) and psychopathy (SRP). Results: Using signal detection theory methods, observers’ sensitivity (d′) and response bias (C) for perceiving other’s pain were calculated. Correlation analyses revealed that only the scores (total score and sub scores) on the SRP yielded significant (negative) correlations with the two measures. Conclusion: Higher scores on psychopathy seem to be associated with a less accurate pain detection (d′) and a greater tendency to indicate that the other person is in pain (C). Although these results show an influence of psychopathy on the estimation of pain, other important determinants should be addressed in further research.