Ralph C. Serin

Psychopathy and Violence in Criminals

The present study investigated the relationship between criminal psychopathy and violent behavior. Groups were defined according to psychopathy ratings (Hares Psychopathy Checklist) and violence. Psychopaths scored higher than nonpsychopaths on measures of impulsiveness and aggressiveness, and they were more likely than other inmates to behave aggressively, to have committed more serious past offenses, to have used weapons, threats and instrumental aggression, and to have suffered physical abuse as a child. When presented with hypothetical situations that involved a frustrating outcome, psychopaths reported that they would be more angry than nonpsychopaths, and they attributed greater hostile intent to others. Violent psychopaths were seen as qualitatively different than violent nonpsychopaths in their use of violence, yet they did not differ in terms of the seriousness of their index offense.

Violent recidivism in criminal psychopaths

The predictive validity of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) was compared with 3 actuarial risk scales in a sample of 81 offenders followed for a maximum of 67 months (average of 30 months). The recommittal or general recidivism rate for the entire sample was 57% (40% for nonpsychopaths, 51.2% for a mixed group, and 85% for psychopaths). The violent reoffense rate was 10% for the sample (nonpsychopaths 0%, mixed 7.3%, psychopaths 25%). All instruments were significantly correlated with general recidivism; however, the PCL-R was the best predictor of violent recidivism. Compared to the actuarial scales, the PCL-R had a higher predictive efficiency (Relative Improvement Over Chance (RIOC)) and yielded fewer decision errors. Most importantly, Factor 1 was a better predictor of violent recidivism than Factor 2, suggesting that the trait construct of psychopathy makes a unique contribution to the prediction of violent recidivism.

Psychopathy and Deviant Sexual Arousal in Incarcerated Sexual Offenders

This study investigates the relationship between psychopathy and deviant sexual arousal in a sample of 65 sexual offenders, with approximately equal numbers of rapists and child molesters. Psychopathy, measured by the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised and phallometric indexes of deviant sexual arousal were significantly correlated, r(63) =.28, p <. 02. Differentiating between rapists, extrafamilial pedophiles, and incest offenders revealed that this relationship, however, was most apparent for extrafamilial child molesters, somewhat less for rapists, and not at all for incest offenders. The incidence of psychopathy was substantially lower than previous rates in incarcerated samples and a psychiatric sample of sexual offenders. Rapists had higher psychopathy ratings than child molesters, approaching statistical significance t(60) = -1.88, p < .07.

Psychopathy, Deviant Sexual Arousal, and Recidivism Among Sexual Offenders

A sample of 68 incarcerated sexual offenders for whom assessments of psychopathy and sexual deviance were available were followed up postrelease for 7 years to determine (a) rates of recidivism, (b) discriminant and predictive ability of psychopathy and sexual deviance, and (c) degree of incremental predictive utility of grouping offenders based on extreme combinations of psychopathy and sexual deviance. The results confirm previous research, which suggests that general recidivism and sex offender typologies are differentiated using information on psychopathy. Rapists and child molesters were differentiated based on measures of deviant sexual arousal. Although some of the results are speculative with respect to the groups based on extreme cutoffs, the trends support this proposal. Those who displayed more psychopathic characteristics and deviant sexual arousal recidivated sooner and at significantly higher rates. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for the provisions of assessment and intervention strategies and for providing recommendations regarding prescriptive treatment.

Comparisons Between Sexual and Nonsexual Rapist Subtypes Sexual Arousal to Rape, Offense Precursors, and Offense Characteristics

Sixty incarcerated rapists were subtyped according to the Massachusetts Treatment Center Rapist Typology as either “nonsexual” (i.e., the opportunistic and vindictive subtypes) or “sexual” (i.e., the nonsadistic and sadistic subtypes). Subjects were then tested using the circumferential penile plethysmograph, assessing their erectile responses to verbal descriptions of consenting sex and rape. Additionally, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised was scored for each subject, and institutional files were summarized and coded. The index offenses committed by the nonsexual subtypes were more violent and resulted in greater victim damage; the offenses of the men in the nonsexual subtypes were more likely to be impulsive; the men in the sexual subtypes were more socially isolated at the time of the offense. Relative sexual arousal to rape descriptions was greater among the sexual subtypes than among the nonsexual subtypes. These results are discussed in terms of two separate cognitive-behavioral processes leading to rape.

Psychopathy, Treatment Change, and Recidivism in High-Risk, High-Need Sexual Offenders

The present study investigated 154 consecutive admissions to the Regional Treatment Center (Ontario) Sex Offender Treatment Program with reference to psychopathy and outcome. Ratings of treatment behavior, as well as clinical judgments as to whether risk was reduced, were coded based on treatment reports. With reference to Psychopathy Checklist-revised (PCL-R) scores, survival analyses indicated that high scorers recidivated at significantly higher rates than low scorers. However, offenders who received high PCL-R scores and lower scores on measures of treatment behavior recidivated at the same rate as low scorers on the PCL-R. Furthermore, among high PCL-R offenders, those rated as lower risk at post treatment in fact reoffended at a lower rate than those whose risk was rated as unchanged, although this difference failed to reach significance. Findings are discussed in light of the clinical and research literature.

Examining the process of offender change: the transition to crime desistance

Abstract Prior research focusing on crime acquisition and crime desistance has advanced the theoretical understanding of the psychology of crime and overcome many of the practical challenges of crime management. This paper, however, aims to encourage more detailed examination of the process through which offenders transition from crime to desistance. Desistance occurs when external and internal variables align in such a way that an offender with a history of multiple offences ceases all criminal activity. It is argued that systematic examination of behaviour change among offenders will complement current approaches to offender rehabilitation, risk assessment and community supervision. Previous research on crime acquisition, crime desistance and behaviour change are briefly reviewed. In addition, the theoretical assumptions of leading models of rehabilitation are examined. Finally, strategies to further integrate various research findings are discussed and several broad research hypotheses are offered.

Social and cognitive processing deficits in violent offenders: Implications for treatment☆

Abstract A theoretical model will be presented that highlights the convergence of two important lines of investigation — that of impulsivity (Shapiro, 1965; Newman & Wallace, in press) and cognitive schema of hostile attribution (Dodge, 1980). The importance of a personological approach to violence that incorporates psychopathy as a dispositional factor will be described, as will a new treatment program for violent offenders. The limitations of traditional psychometric assessment of anger and aggression will also be discussed as a prelude to alternate assessment strategies. Finally, treatment components specifically selected to reflect treatment needs hypothesized in a conceptual model of violence are reviewed.

Suicide, hopelessness, and social desirability: a test of an interactive model

We examined the relationships among suicidal indices, hopelessness, and social desirability. Both hopelessness and a measure of social desirability that reflected a sense of general capability were significant indicators of suicidal manifestations. In particular, hierarchical multiple regression procedures demonstrated that hopelessness and social desirability interacted in the prediction of suicide variables. Results generalized across various clinical diagnostic subgroups of psychiatric patients and a sample of prisoners and across different clinically evaluated and self-reported indices of suicidal behavior. Findings are interpreted to mean that a sense of general capability buffers the link of hopelessness to suicidal behavior. Implications for understanding the cognitions associated with suicide and for improving prediction of persons at risk are discussed.

Dosage of Treatment to Sexual Offenders: Are We Overprescribing?

A sample of 337 offenders who received treatment in a variety of sex offender treatment programs in the Ontario region of Correctional Service Canada between 1993 and 1998 were divided based on the highest intensity sex offender programming that they received (low, moderate, and high). The three groups were compared with reference to a variety of actuarial risk assessment measures, criminogenic factors, and the number and type of treatment programs completed. It was hypothesized that the high-intensity group would have more criminogenic risk factors, higher actuarial scores, and participate in more treatment programs than both the moderate- and low-intensity groups. The results indicate that in general, the hypotheses were supported. Nonetheless, the results suggest that the low-intensity group may be receiving too much sex offender-specific treatment.