The present study examined the factorial and predictive validity of the Carlson Psychological Survey with male adolescent offenders (n = 350). Factor analysis revealed that, in general, the Carlson is well represented by five scales. Of the four content scales, Antisocial Tendencies proved to be the best of a variety of predictors of institutional adjustment. Thought Disturbance and Self-Depreciation were unrelated to staff ratings on the Behavior Problem Checklist 'Personality Problem' Scale; however, they were positively correlated with the Social Anxiety and Withdrawal scales of the Jesness Inventory. The pattern of these correlations, as well as those between Antisocial Tendencies and the behavioral data, suggest that the Carlson Psychological Survey may be a good indicator of internalizing versus externalizing behavioral and attitudinal styles.

These notes place an important limitation on the conclusions drawn by Friesen and Andrews (1982) regarding the predictive validity of a measure of the inprogram self-regulation efforts of 42 young-adult probationers. In the earlier report, assessments of self-regulation were found to be reliable (interrater r(20) = .96) and they correlated with intake socialization scores ( r(42) = .38), and with reconvictions monitored from the start of probation to the end of three postprobation years ( r(42) = -.38). The present note shows that the predictive validity of the self-regulation scores was only evident among high-risk cases: The correlation was -.70 with the recidivism of 19 low-socialization cases compared with -.02 among 23 high-socialization probationers. The results are discussed in relation to the risk principle of case classification.

The Carlson Psychological Survey is a personality inventory designed for use with incarcerated young adults. The present study examined several psychometric properties of this test with a male adolescent offender population. The test's four content scales (Chemical Abuse, Thought Disturbance, Antisocial Tendencies, and Self-Depreciation) were found to be internally consistent, reliable over time, moderately intercorrelated, and generally unrelated to age, IQ, or social desirability. The test's validity scale was found to be less reliable than the content scales. Adolescent norms were calculated and were found to be similar to Carlson's (1981) young adult norms. Overall, the Carlson Psychological Survey was recommended as a personality screening test for young offenders.

The social learning model of behavioral self-management provides a promising base for the assessment of intra-and interindividual differences in self-control. Assessments of the anticriminal efforts of probationers were made from audiotapes of counseling sessions. The assessments proved to be reliable, to correlate with several relevant attitude and personality measures and were predictive of postprogram recidivism. The application of specific self-regulation skills were more predictive than were general plans or expressions of values supportive of self-management.