Use of the MMPI—A to Assess Personality of Juvenile Male Delinquents Who are Sex Offenders and Nonsex Offenders

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between offender type and personality in 21 juvenile males adjudicated for crimes of a sexual nature and 30 juvenile males adjudicated for nonsexual offenses including Possession of Narcotics, Burglary, Criminal Mischief, Assault, and other crimes involving property. Subjects who were aged 13 to 17 years (mean age 15) and committed to the State of Connecticut, Long Lane School, were administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A). Scores on Psychopathic Deviate and Schizophrenia scales contributed most to the juveniles being classified as sex offenders, whereas scores on Hysteria and Psychasthenia contributed primarily to subjects being classified as nonsex offenders. A single discriminant function attained statistical significance, thereby correctly classifying 77% of the nonsex offenders and 71% of the sex offenders. Results indicate that sex offenders may be distinguished from nonsex offenders according to clinical scales of the MMPI-A.

Juvenile Sex Offenders Compared to Non-Sex Offenders

“…The mean number of participants in the sex offender subgroups (n = 105) was smaller than in the nonsex offender subgroups (n = 513), and most samples were derived from incarcerated populations. A number of studies did not meet inclusion criteria, mainly because they included relatively small samples or were not considered because they were published before 1995 (e.g., Benoit & Kennedy, 1992;Epps, Haworth, & Swaffer, 1993;Fagan & Wexler, 1988;Losada-Paisey, 1998;Rubinstein, Yeager, Goodstein, & Lewis, 1993;Tarter, Hegedus, Alterman, & Katz-Garris, 1983;Truscott, 1993;Valliant & Bergeron, 1997).…”

A Systematic Qualitative Review of Risk and Protective Factors for Sexual Violence Perpetration

“…General adjustment difficulties/psychopathology. ASOs were more likely than comparison groups to have worse emotional functioning on a variety of constructs including Axis I and Axis II disorders (Bagley & Shewchuk-Dann, 1991;Blaske et al, 1989;Losada-Paisey, 1998;McCraw & Pegg-McNab, 1989;Milloy, 1994;Valliant & Bergeron, 1997). Similarly, sexually violent adults in collegiate and community samples reported more anger, antisocial, and psychopathic traits than comparison groups (Berkowitz, 1992;Christoffersen et al, 2005;Christopher et al, 1993;Dean & Malamuth, 1997;DeGue & DiLillo, 2004;Goetz & Shakelford, 2006;Hersh & Gray-Little, 1998;Knight & Sims-Knight, 2003;Kosson, Kelly, & White, 1997;Petty & Dawson, 1989;Senn et al, 2000;Spence, Losoff, & Robbins, 1991;White et al, 2008;Zawacki et al, 2003).…”

Personality Characteristics of Male Juvenile Offenders by Adjudicated Offenses as Indicated by the MMPI–A

“…The current study also demonstrates the ability of the MMPI-A to discriminate between the three offense types. In addition, the scales used to compose the LDFs contain fewer items than previous investigations using similar methodology (Hume et al, 1996;Losada-Paisey, 1998;Moore et al, 1996). For example, Scale 1 is among the smallest of the clinical scales, in terms of the number of items, and the use of subscales greatly reduced the information needed to adequately discriminate between the offenses.…”

“…The psychometric study of personality characteristics of male juvenile offenders, classified by type of offense, has been of interest particularly in forensic settings (Losada-Paisey, 1998). The study of personality characteristics by offender type appear useful for identifying adolescents who may be at risk for committing particular crimes and understanding the dynamics of offending.…”