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On the basis of previous investigations of the mechanism of similarity in unidimensional continua, a hypothetical equation has been derived for the general multidimensional case of a simultaneous variation with regard to both subjective intensity and subjective quality. The special case of purely qualitative similarity was submitted to experimental test in 4 experiments, in which subjective intensity was kept approximately constant. The experiments were concerned with emotion, odor, color, and judgment of personality traits. The equation describing the mechanism of subjective similarity in the qualitative case was verified by the results of all experiments. It was concluded that this mechanism is probably general in character, as has previously been shown for the corresponding mechanism in the unidimensional case. The simplicity is an outstanding characteristic of both principles, and it was pointed out that both principles appear basically identical.

Testosterone levels were examined in prisoners convicted of violent crimes (n = 13), in men previously convicted of violent crimes but currently not in prison (n = 15), in nonviolent alcoholics (n = 15), and in randomly selected control males (n = 16). Morning, afternoon, and evening testosterone levels were assessed after a minimum alcohol abstinence period of 24 hr. Violent and nonviolent men did not differ in plasma total testosterone level on any sampling occasion. In violent men, however, testosterone levels were significantly correlated with hostility, as measured by the Derogatis Symptom Check List. Most violent men were diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASP) [DSM-III-R; 301.70], and the unweighted ASP symptom count also correlated significantly with testosterone levels in these subjects. We suggest that individuals whose life histories involve numerous antisocial behaviors tend to have high testosterone levels even when interpersonal violence is excluded. This, however, does not eliminate the possibility that males who are characterized by high hostility may also have elevated testosterone levels. Violent predisposition and antisocial conduct beginning in early adolescence predict adult aggressive behaviors, which are augmented by power-related alcohol expectancies and alcohol abuse. Aggr. Behav. 25:113-123, 1999.

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