A Comparison of Factor Models on the PCL-R With Mentally Disordered Offenders

Abstract

For more than a decade, researchers and practitioners have generally accepted a two-factor model for the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) composed of core personality features and an antisocial lifestyle. Very recently, Cooke and Michie (2001) proposed a three-factor solution that divided the core personality features into two dimensions while eliminating antisocial behavior. This study of male, mentally disordered offenders ( N = 96) directly compared factor models via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). When using testlets to combine theoretically similar items into single ratings, the nested three-factor model was an excellent fit. Of importance, the development of a four-factor model with the inclusion of antisocial items also produced an excellent fit. Combined with recent research, these findings have important ramifications for the construct validity of the PCL-R.

Testing Factor Models of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version and Their Association With Instrumental Aggression

“…Consistent with recent research on the underpinnings of psychopathy, in this study, we demonstrated that psychopathy can be represented in terms of interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial dimensions (Hare & Neumann, in press;Hill et al, 2004;Neumann et al, 2005;Vitacco, Rogers, Neumann, Harrison, & Vincent, 2005). Of note, the poor results for the two-factor model are consistent with previous findings (Cooke & 80 VITACCO, NEUMANN, CALDWELL, LEISTICO, VAN RYBROEK Michie, 2001; Darke, Kaye, Finlay-Jones, & Hall, 1998;Kosson et al, 2002;McDermott et al, 2000) that have questioned the viability of the two-factor model.…”

“…The different pattern of results between the three-and four-factor model SEMs are similar to the findings of , whereby the parameters for the other psychopathy factors take on greater strength when the Antisocial Psychopathy factor is included in the model. We interpret this finding to indicate that the antisocial facet plays a central role in the underlying factor structure of psychopathy (see Hare, 2003;Neumann et al, 2005;Vitacco, Rogers, et al, 2005).…”

The Validity of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory—Revised in a Community Sample

“…Hence, most importantly, the PPI-R needs factor structure improvement which should be started at item level. (Vitacco, Rogers, Neumann, Harrison, & Vincent, 2005).…”

The Self-Report Psychopathy Scale SRP-III and Its Correlation with the Five Factor Model

“…U četverofaktor-skoj strukturi SRP-a III tri faktora odgovaraju Cookeovoj i Michievoj trofaktorskoj strukturi, a četvrti faktor predstavlja antisocijalni faktor. Niz kasnijih istraživanja potvrdio je če-tverofaktorsku strukturu (Hill, Neumann i Rogers, 2004;Neumann i sur., 2005;Vitacco, Rogers, Neumann, Harrison i Vincent, 2005). Neka su istraživanja, koristeći se multiplom regresijom, pokazala da četverofaktorska struktura ima bolju prediktivnu valjanost, npr.…”