Personality and criminality: A review of the California Psychological Inventory

Presents review of studies that use the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) with delinquents and criminals. Studies listed fit categories that illustrate the ability of the CPI to measure: (a) personality differences between delinquents and non-delinquents; (b) personality typologies and classifications; and (c) personality variables that predict future criminal or asocial behavior. In addition, studies are listed that describe the (d) historical development of the CPI and its application to criminality, as well as (e) the CPI's ability to measure and quantify aspects of criminal behavior. Methodological concerns, profile interpretations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

The personality of pathological gamblers: a meta-analysis

This review summarizes studies of pathological gambling and personality. Meta-analyses were conducted on 44 studies that reported personality traits of pathological gamblers (N = 2134) and nonpathological gambling control groups (N = 5321). Effect size estimates were calculated for 128 comparisons and organized according to the factors associated with two integrative accounts of personality. Four of the meta-analyses examined traits that have previously been found to load on the Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, and Sensation Seeking aspects of impulsivity (Whiteside & Lynam 2001). Substantial effects were found for traits associated with Negative Urgency (Cohen's d = .99) and Low Premeditation (d = .84), but not for Low Perseverance or Sensation Seeking. A second set of meta-analyses examined broad domains of personality that have previously been found to load on Negative Affect, Positive Affect, Disagreeable Disinhibition, and Unconscientious Disinhibition (Markon, Krueger, & Watson, 2005). Substantial effects were found for Unconscientious Disinhibition (d = .79), Negative Affect (d = .50), and Disagreeable Disinhibition (d = .50), but not Positive Affect. It was concluded that these individual personality characteristics may be important in the etiology of pathological gambling. The personality profile implicated in the etiology of pathological gambling is similar to that found in a recent meta-analysis of substance use disorders (Kotov, Gamez, Schmidt, & Watson, 2010). These results suggest that pathological gambling may be part of a broad cluster of externalizing psychopathology, and also call into question the current classification of pathological gambling as an Impulse Control Disorder in the DSM-IV.     

Stages of change in treatment-seeking pathological gamblers

The transtheoretical model has been applied to many addictive disorders. In this study, psychometrics properties of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) scale were evaluated in 234 pathological gamblers initiating treatment. Four components were identified--reflective of precontemplation, contemplation, action, and maintenance stages--with internal consistency from .74 to .88. Cluster analyses identified 4 patterns of responding, ranging from ambivalent to active change. The 4 clusters differed with respect to baseline gambling variables and treatment engagement and outcomes assessed 2 months later. A continuous measure of readiness to change was also correlated with gambling severity and predictive of reductions in gambling. This study provides initial support for reliability and validity of the URICA in treatment-seeking gamblers, and it suggests that stage of change may have an impact on outcomes.     

Cluster analysis of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles in a chronic headache population

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles from 123 chronic headache sufferers (48 migraine, 47 muscle contraction, 28 mixed) were cluster analyzed in order (1) to replicate results from other pain populations and (2) to examine differences among the clusters along headache parameters and demographic variables. Four homogeneous subgroups were obtained and a multiple discriminant analysis was successful in correctly classifying 97.56% of the headache subjects. Obtained clusters closely resembled those evidenced in previous pain research. Results indicated that diagnostic category was unrelated to cluster membership; however, frequency of headache occurrence was a differentiating factor. Implications for headache treatment and future research are discussed.     

Personality profiles of the morbidly obese

Personality characteristics of 150 morbidly obese patients (100 pounds or more over ideal weight) were investigated. The patients were given the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and a new, self-report personality disorder inventory. The study attempted to determine whether particular personality variables could predict success or failure at weight loss six months post-surgery. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed no significant differences on any of the personality variables when the patients were divided into "good," "fair," and "poor" success categories. Rank order MMPI scale profiles and personality disorder profiles are presented and implications discussed.     

A randomized trial of brief interventions for problem and pathological gamblers

Limited research exists regarding methods for reducing problem gambling. Problem gamblers (N = 180) were randomly assigned to assessment only control, 10 min of brief advice, 1 session of motivational enhancement therapy (MET), or 1 session of MET plus 3 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Gambling was assessed at baseline, at 6 weeks, and at a 9-month follow-up. Relative to assessment only, brief advice was the only condition that significantly decreased gambling between baseline and Week 6, and it was associated with clinically significant reductions in gambling at Month 9. Between Week 6 and Month 9, MET plus cognitive-behavioral therapy evidenced significantly reduced gambling on 1 index compared with the control condition. These results suggest the efficacy of a very brief intervention for reduction of gambling among problem and pathological gamblers who are not actively seeking gambling treatment.     

Personality profiles of police candidates

Recently, Eber (1991) reported on several large-scale studies of law enforcement candidates. The main measures were the two parts of the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire (Krug, Cattell, & IPAT, 1980). Part I consists of the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire Scales, while Part II is devoted to 12 measures of psychopathology. The most striking finding was a clear personality profile characterized by a strong pattern of self-discipline or Control, Tough Poise, and low Anxiety. Our study hypothesis was that several police personality profiles would be found. This conjecture was tested on the 16PF scores of two samples of 275 police candidates by means of the Ward (1963) hierarchical clustering procedure and the Milligan/Sokal (1980) nonhierarchical K-means cluster procedures. Three distinct score profiles were isolated in both samples.     

Computer and manual administration of the Eysenck Personality Inventory

Administered mental health patients (10 outpatients and 8 inpatients) the Eysenck Personality Inventory using computerized and manual format. In a cross-over, counterbalanced design scores for the three EPI scales did not differ between administrations. Test-retest reliability between forms was high and comparable to previous reliability reported for the manual form. It was suggested that automation of routine testing procedures may be a viable and economical alternative to traditional methods.     

CPI与学科成绩的相关性研究

目的：了解性格特征与学样成绩的关系,为进一步对中学生的咨询,就业,升学指导等提供资料。方法：采用加利福尼亚心理调查表（CPI）对71名高一学生进行测试,并与期末学科成绩及文、理科平均成绩进行相关分析。结果：（1）CPI中的Re(责任心）,So(社会化）,Wb(适意感）,Ac(依赖成就）,Py（心理感受性）,Cm(同众性）,To(宽容性）,Se（自我控制）,V3（自我实现）等9种性格特征与学科成绩有较高相关（0．24－0．33,P均＜0．05,0．01）;（2）文、理科成绩与CPI的相关同一定的差异;（3）成绩好组主要在So,Sc,Wb,To,V3几个分量表上明显要高于成绩差组（P＜0．01或0．05）。结论：CPI与学样成绩有一定相关,且对学科成绩有一定预测作用。     

Detection of faking on the Personality Inventory for Children

Evaluated the effectiveness of various techniques for the identification of faking on the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC). Seventy undergraduate students were asked to complete two PICs on their child using various permutations of the options: Faking bad, faking good, and legitimate. The results were cross-validated against a clinical sample in which there was reason to believe that the informant had completed the PIC in a faked bad, faked good, or legitimate fashion. The results indicate that a clinician cannot be absolutely certain whether a PIC profile is valid. However, given our current level of understanding, Adjustment (ADJ) greater than or equal to 84 T for the identification of faking bad and either Social Desirability (SD) greater than or equal to 54 T or K greater than or equal to 59 T for the identification of faking good are recommended.