Q-factor analytic techniques were used to analyze the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) profiles of 30 white males recently admitted to a maximum security unit for the criminally insane at a midweslern state hospital. Subjects incarcerated for commission of violent crimes (N -IS) tended to have similar subtest score configurations. Subsequent investigation indicated that these WAIS profiles could be described as a simple ratio of the Similarities score to the total of all 11 subtest scores. The mean Similarities ratio score for the violent group was significantly lower than that of the nonviolent group in both the original sample (M = 6.7 versus 9.9) and cross-validation sample (M = S.I versus 9.4). These findings, interpreted in light of other research studies, indicate the potential value of research efforts that simultaneously evaluate measures of related deficits in abstract reasoning, left temporal lobe dysfunctioning, and violent behavior on the same subjects.

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