Stephen D. Hart

Psychopathy and the DSM-IV criteria for antisocial personality disorder.

The Axis II Work Group of the Task Force on DSM-IV has expressed concern that antisocial personality disorder (APD) criteria are too long and cumbersome and that they focus on antisocial behaviors rather than personality traits central to traditional conceptions of psychopathy and to international criteria. We describe an alternative to the approach taken in the rev. 3rd ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987), namely, the revised Psychopathy Checklist. We also discuss the multisite APD field trials designed to evaluate and compare four criteria sets: the DSM-III-R criteria, a shortened list of these criteria, the criteria for dyssocial personality disorder from the 10th ed. of the International Classification of Diseases (World Health Organization, 1990), and a 10-item criteria set for psychopathic personality disorder derived from the revised Psychopathy Checklist.

Assessing emotional intelligence: reliability and validity of the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) in university students

Abstract The study examined reliability and validity of a new measure of emotional (i.e. non-cognitive) intelligence, the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i; Bar-On, 1997 , in a sample of 243 university students. Results indicated that the EQ-i domain and component scales had good item homogeneity and internal consistency. Scores were not unduly affected by response styles or biases. The EQ-i scales had a meaningful pattern of convergent validities with respect to measures of normal personality, depression, somatic symptomatology, intensity of affective experience and alexithymia. The reliability and validity results for men and women were very similar. Overall, the results suggested that the EQ-i is a promising measure of emotional intelligence. We recommend strategies for further validation of the EQ-i, as well as the construct of emotional intelligence.

The Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL-R)

The Psychopathy Checklist (PCL; Hare, 1980) and its revision (PCL-R; Hare, 1985a, in press) are clinical rating scales that provide researchers and clinicians with reliable and valid assessments of psychopathy. Their development was spurred largely by dissatisfactions with the ways in which other assessment procedures defined and measured psychopathy (Hare, 1980, 1985b).

Performance of Male Psychopaths Following Conditional Release from Prison.

Dans une population de psychopathes liberes sur parole (n=231), les auteurs ont administre le «Psychopathy Checklist» (PCL): une relation significative fut trouvee entre les scores obtenus et les taux de recidive

Psychosis as a risk factor for violence to others: a meta-analysis

The potential association between psychosis and violence to others has long been debated. Past research findings are mixed and appear to depend on numerous potential moderators. As such, the authors conducted a quantitative review (meta-analysis) of research on the association between psychosis and violence. A total of 885 effect sizes (odds ratios) were calculated or estimated from 204 studies on the basis of 166 independent data sets. The central tendency (median) of the effect sizes indicated that psychosis was significantly associated with a 49%-68% increase in the odds of violence. However, there was substantial dispersion among effect sizes. Moderation analyses indicated that the dispersion was attributable in part to methodological factors, such as study design (e.g., community vs. institutional samples), definition and measurement of psychosis (e.g., diagnostic vs. symptom-level measurement, type of symptom), and comparison group (e.g., psychosis compared with externalizing vs. internalizing vs. no mental disorder). The authors discuss these findings in light of potential causal models of the association between psychosis and violence, the role of psychosis in violence risk assessment and management, and recommendations for future research.

The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA) Guide: Reliability and validity in adult male offenders.

We evaluated the reliability and validity of judgments concerning risk for violence made using the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA; Kropp, Hart, Webster, & Eaves, 1994, 1995, 1998). We analyzed SARA ratings in six samples of adult male offenders (total N = 2681). The distribution of ratings indicated that offenders were quite heterogeneous with respect to the presence of individual risk factors and to overall perceived risk. Structural analyses of the risk factors indicated moderate levels of internal consistency and item homogeneity. Interrater reliability was high for judgments concerning the presence of individual risk factors and for overall perceived risk. SARA ratings significantly discriminated between offenders with and without a history of spousal violence in one sample, and between recidivistic and nonrecidivistic spousal assaulters in another. Finally, SARA ratings showed good convergent and discriminant validity with respect to other measures related to risk for general and violent criminality.

The assessment of psychopathy in male and female noncriminals: Reliability and validity

The present study examined the reliability and validity of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised: Screening Version (PCL-R:SV; Hart, Cox & Hare, 1995, Manual for the Screening Version of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL-R:SV)) in a sample of 75 male and 75 female university students. We examined the internal structure of the PCL-R:SV and its relationship to a battery of self-report measures relevant to the construct of psychopathy. Results indicated that the PCL-R:SV had good internal consistency and interrater reliability. The distribution of psychopathy scores were significantly higher among the males than the females. A factor analysis failed to confirm the two factor structure of psychopathy previously found in forensic samples. PCL-R:SV Total scores were significantly correlated with Antisocial Personality Disorder symptoms, substance use, self-reported criminal activity, and observer ratings of interpersonal behavior. Overall, the results suggest that the PCL-R:SV is a reliable and valid measure of psychopathic traits in nonforensic populations.

Evaluating the Screening Version of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL:SV): An item response theory analysis.

The Screening Version of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL:SV; S. D. Hart, D. N. Cox, & R. D. Hare, 1995) was developed to complement the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; R. D. Hare, 1991), and for use outside forensic settings. The PCL:SV takes less time to administer and requires less collateral information than the PCL-R. An item response theory approach was adopted to determine similarities in the structural properties of the 2 instruments and whether the PCL:SV could be regarded as a short form of the PCL-R. Eight of the 12 items in the PCL:SV were strongly parallel to their equivalent PCL-R items. Of the 4 items PCL:SV items which differed from their equivalent PCL-R items, all 4 were found to be equal or superior to their equivalent PCL-R items in terms of discrimination. The analyses confirmed previous results that the interpersonal and affective features of psychopathy have higher thresholds than do the impulsive and antisocial behavioral features; individuals have to be at a higher level of the psychopathic trait before the interpersonal and affective features become evident. The PCL:SV is an effective short form of the PCL-R.

Inpatient and Postdischarge Aggression in Mentally Disordered Offenders The Role of Psychopathy

Previous research has indicated that psychopathy, as measured by the Hare Psychopathy Checklist is related to violent behavior, recidivism, and career criminality in nonpsychotic, correctional populations. However, the present study is among only a few to investigate the relationship between psychopathy and violence in mentally disordered offenders. Participants (N = 218) were administered the PCL following admission to an inpatient forensic hospital. Significant correlations between the PCL total scores and both nonphysical and physical aggression during the first 2 months of hospitalization were observed. The PCL total scores were also significantly correlated with postdischarge arrests for offenses against persons but not for offenses against property. Both age and PCL total score were significantly related to the total number of aggressive incidents during the first 2 months of hospitalization, but only the PCL total was significantly related to frequency of seclusion or restraint during this period. Results suggest that psychopathy may serve as a risk factor for mentally disordered offenders for certain kinds of aggression.

Evidence for Long-Term, Specific Effects of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on Criminal Behavior in Men

We reviewed the extensive institutional files of 604 male federal inmates to determine the impact of various types of childhood abuse and neglect on violent and aggressive behavior in adulthood. Men who had been abused as children were three times more likely than nonabused men to engage in violent acts as adults. Moreover, specific forms of childhood abuse were associated with specific (and isomorphic) patterns of adult violence; for example, those who were physically abused were most likely to be physically violent, and those who were sexually abused were most likely to be sexually violent. These results are consistent with the cycle of violence hypothesis, which states that those who experience childhood abuse become more likely to abuse others as adults, probably due to vicarious learning through exposure to violent models.