NCJ Number
97504
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychology Volume: 41 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1985) Pages: 104-111
Date Published
1985
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study tested the concurrent validity of the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory by using it to measure abuse potential in a normal and nonparent adult population.
Abstract
Forty-four subjects were assigned to a high or low abuse potential group based upon their CAP Inventory's abuse scale scores. Each subject's heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) were monitored while the subject was viewing videotape presentations of an infant smiling, crying, or quiescent. The high abuse potential group had a faster peak HR throughout the videotape presentations, with no significant differences among videotape segments. The low abuse potential group had a slower peak HR and a significantly lower HR during the 'Smile and Cry' segments than in the second 'Quiescent' segment. The males accounted for most of the significant SC variability among tape segments. The pattern of SC responses revealed that the males were less aroused than the females, the low abuse potential group was less aroused than the high abuse potential group, and all four groups showed a decrease in arousal toward the end of the videotape presentations. The results support the concurrent validity of the CAP inventory. Graphic data and 13 references are provided. (Author abstract modified)