Citation

Walters GD, Duncan SA, Mitchell-Perez K. Assessment 2007; 14(3): 270-278.

Affiliation

Psychology Services, Federal Correctional Institution-Schuylkill, Minersville, PA 17954, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1073191107299594

PMID

17690383

Abstract

A taxometric analysis of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is conducted on a group of 409 male maximum-, medium-, and minimum-security federal prison inmates using the four PCL-R facet scores (interpersonal, affective, impulsive lifestyle, and antisocial behavior) as indicators. Results obtained from three quasi-independent taxometric procedures-mean above minus below a cut, maximum eigenvalue, and latent mode factor analysis-reveal consistent support for a dimensional interpretation of the psychopathy concept in a moderately heterogeneous sample of participants. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that psychopathy falls along a continuum and that high and low scores on the PCL-R reflect quantitative differences in degree rather than qualitative differences in kind.

Language: en