The evaluation of truthfulness in alleged sex offenders' self-reports: 16PF and MMPI validity scales

Global, local, and graphical person-fit analysis using person-response functions

Person-fit statistics test whether the likelihood of a respondent's complete vector of item scores on a test is low given the hypothesized item response theory model. This binary information may be insufficient for diagnosing the cause of a misfitting item-score vector. The authors propose a comprehensive methodology for person-fit analysis in the context of nonparametric item response theory. The methodology (a) includes H. Van der Flier's (1982) global person-fit statistic U3 to make the binary decision about fit or misfit of a person's item-score vector, (b) uses kernel smoothing (J. O. Ramsay, 1991) to estimate the person-response function for the misfitting item-score vectors, and (c) evaluates unexpected trends in the person-response function using a new local person-fit statistic (W. H. M. Emons, 2003). An empirical data example shows how to use the methodology for practical person-fit analysis.

A Variable Response Inconsistency scale and a True Response Inconsistency scale for the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory

Variable Response Inconsistency (M-VRIN) and True Response Inconsistency (M-TRIN) scales were developed for the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory using 104 male and 78 female delinquents, ages 13-17 years. M-VRIN efficacy was assessed by comparing nonrandom protocols of 76 male and 34 female delinquents, ages 13-17 years, with 100 computer-generated random protocols. Nonrandom protocols were screened using a matched-pair Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent or Jesness Inventory. M-TRIN efficacy was assessed by comparing protocols with 160 simulated acquiescent and nonacquiescent protocols. Specificities of .95 or higher showed sensitivities up to .89 for M-VRIN, and .90 and .79 for M-TRIN. Predictive power and overall effectiveness are reported for several base rates. Small relationships may exist between M-VRIN and race, and between M-TRIN and gender.

Can sex offenders who minimize on the MMPI conceal psychopathology on the Rorschach?

Rorschach sensitivity to minimization is important in forensic evaluations of sex offenders because these individuals frequently deny psychological problems. To study Rorschach minimization, we divided alleged sex offenders according to whether they minimized on the MMPI (Hathaway & McKinley, 1943) or MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) and compared their Rorschachs on indexes of distress, faulty judgment, interpersonal dysfunction, and cognitive distortions. We predicted there would be no differences between MMPI minimizers and nonminimizers on these indexes and that sex offenders of both groups would show greater psychopathology than normative adult samples. Results indicate that mini- mizers produce normal MMPI clinical profiles but still show evidence of psychopathology on the Rorschach. As predicted, sex offenders showed more Rorschach psychopathology than normative samples. Sex offenders' protocols that contained sexual content also showed perceptual distortions. These findings indicate that the Rorschach is resilient to attempts at faking good and may therefore provide valuable information in forensic settings where intentional distortion is common.

Detection of minimization of psychopathology on the Rorschach in cleric and noncleric alleged sex offenders

The assessment of response-bias is critical in forensic psychological evaluations of alleged sex offenders because sex offenders frequently minimize psychopathology or personal limitations. This study tested predictions based on prior research that minimization on the Rorschach would be reflected by higher P, D, A, Lambda, and PER, and lower R, Blends, and Zf. We divided a sample of cleric and noncleric alleged sex offenders according to (a) whether they showed minimization on the MMPI, and (b) whether they admitted to their charges. We then compared these groups on the purported Rorschach validity indices. Our results do not support the use of any of these Rorschach scores in the assessment of minimization. We recommend that in forensic psychological evaluations, the Rorschach should not be used to assess defensiveness and is best used in combination with other psychometric instruments more sensitive to response-bias.

Cycle of abuse and psychopathology in cleric and noncleric molesters of children and adolescents

Sexual abuse in childhood is frequently reported among sex offenders and has been hypothesized to be one of a number of psychological factors etiologically related to perpetration of child molestation in adulthood. In the current study we examine a sample of cleric and noncleric admitted child molesters and normal control subjects in their exposure to sexual abuse in childhood and current psychopathology. Odds ratios for the association between exposure to sexual abuse and child molestation were obtained while adjusting for group differences in demographic and psychological characteristics. Results indicated exposure to sexual abuse in childhood was associated with becoming a child molester for both cleric and noncleric offenders (p < .0002). Nonclerics indicated more severe psychopathology than clerics. Sexual abuse in childhood is one of many risk factors for becoming a perpetrator of child molestation in adulthood for both cleric and noncleric child molesters. Noncleric offenders demonstrated more sociopathy and mental disorder in general while cleric offenders indicated more sexual conflictedness, suggesting different psychoetiologies of offending among cleric and noncleric child molesters.

Psychological aspects of sexual functioning among cleric and noncleric alleged sex offenders

Cleric sexual misconduct with minors is a problem receiving increased attention from the media, victims groups, and church authorities. Mental health professionals are increasingly being asked to assist church and civil authorities to help better understand the problem of cleric sexual misconduct with minors. In the current study we compared self-reported sexual functioning among cleric alleged child molesters, noncleric alleged child molesters, and normal control subjects. We hypothesized clerics would differ from nonclerics and normals in reported sexual functioning. Our sample included 30 Roman Catholic clerics and 39 nonclerics who were alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct with minors, and 38 normal control subjects, all of whom took the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI) as part of their forensic psychiatric evaluation. Our results indicated clerics were more likely to report fewer victims, older victims, and victims of male gender than noncleric alleged child molesters. Clerics differed from nonclerics and normal control subjects on several dimensions of self-reported sexual functioning. Lower offense rate histories among clerics suggest that, as a group, clerics may be less seriously psychologically disordered than noncleric child molesters. Low DSFI scores among Roman Catholic clerics may be accounted for in part by their unique training and socialization process. Future studies should attempt to study the influence of social desirability on DSFI scores. Normative data from nonoffending celibate clergy are needed.

Comparison of MCMI-II and 16PF validity scales

We administered the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II; Millon, 1987) and the Sixteen Personality Factors Inventory (16PF; Cattell, Eber, & Tatsuoka, 1970) to 131 outpatients in marital therapy and tested the correlation between the validity scales of the two instruments. The results indicated that MCMI-II Disclosure and Debasement scales were positively correlated with the 16PF Fake-Bad scale and negatively correlated with the 16PF Fake-Good scale. The MCMI-II Desirability scale was significantly correlated with the 16PF Fake-Good scale.

Profiling psychological distortion in alleged child molesters

Sex offenders frequently show denial and distortion during forensic psychological evaluations, but research into assessment of rationalizations and cognitive distortions among sex offenders has been limited. We examined patterns of psychological distortion in 59 alleged child molesters. We compared fake-good and fake-bad orientations on the MMPI with psychological distortion on the Multiphasic Sex Inventory questionnaire which assesses various psychosexual characteristics among sex offenders. Analysis indicated that distortion on the Multiphasic Sex Inventory indices of minimization and exaggeration was significantly associated with response-bias on the MMPI. Cognitive-distortion indices were highly influenced by response-bias. Admitters differed from deniers on scales with items requiring admission or denial of offenses. Caution is warranted in clinical interpretation of the validity scales of this questionnaire, which are of limited utility for deniers. Subtle items on cognitive-distortion indices may be useful in assessment of those who deny and should be subjected to further research.

Denial of hostility and psychopathology in the evaluation of child molestation

We administered the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (Buss & Durkee, 1957) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (Hathaway & McKinley, 1967) to 82 alleged child molesters. Denial of hostility was significantly associated both with minimization of psychopathology and with denial of charges of sex offense. No subjects who denied charges acknowledged psychopathology, whereas one third of admitters acknowledged psychopathology. Our results suggest that alleged sex offenders may show complex patterns of impression management and that self-report hostility inventories are highly vulnerable to response bias.

The psychometric assessment of alcoholism in forensic groups: the MacAndrew scale and response bias

Although the MacAndrew Alcoholism scale is the most widely used Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) measure of vulnerability to alcohol abuse, its accuracy has not been studied in patients intrinsically motivated to exaggerate or minimize psychopathology. We examined the usefulness of the MAC in predicting alcohol abuse in a forensic clinical sample. Results indicate the MAC (a) was not more effective than direct inquiry in this group, (b) scores were correlated negatively with minimization and positively with exaggeration for subjects with histories of alcohol abuse, (c) offered advantages over direct inquiry both in screening for alcohol history (sensitivity) and in confirming it (specificity), and (d) scores were only moderately more accurate in valid than in minimized or exaggerated MMPI protocols. The results suggest that clinicians should use the MAC cautiously, particularly when they suspect motivation to minimize psychopathology.