NCJ Number
40639
Journal
Psychological Reports Volume: 39 Dated: (1976) Pages: 1148-1150
Date Published
1976
Length
3 pages
Annotation
COMMENTS ON SOME OF THE QUALITATIVE AND SEQUENTIAL RESPONSES GIVEN TO ONE OF THE SUBTEST ITEMS ON THE WESCHLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE (WAIS) BY CRIMINAL OFFENDERS TESTED IN A RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY.
Abstract
THE PICTURE ARRANGEMENT, SUBTEST OF THE WAIS, IS A TEST WHICH EFFECTIVELY MEASURES A SUBJECT'S ABILITY TO COMPREHEND AND SIZE UP A TOTAL SITUATION. IN ARRANGING THE SKETCHES ON PICTURE ARRANGEMENT INTO A SEQUENCE WHICH MAKES UP A MEANINGFUL STORY, THE SUBJECT IS REQUIRED TO UNDERSTAND THE INNER RELATIONSHIPS OF A SERIES OF EVENTS AND TO GRASP THE ESSENTIAL MESSAGE OF A SOCIAL INTERACTION. THE SUBJECT'S ACHIEVEMENT ON THIS TEST IS A REFLECTION OF HIS ABILITY TO ANTICIPATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF INITIAL ACTS OR SITUATIONS, AND HENCE IS A REFLECTION OF HIS PLANNING ABILITY. THIS PAPER COMMENTS ON THE CRIMINAL OFFENDER'S TENDENCY TO IDENTIFY WITH THE HOLD-UP ITEM OF THE WAIS PICTURE ARRANGEMENT SUBTEST. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT'S INTERPRETATION OF THE HOLD-UP SKETCHES CAN SHED LIGHT ON FEELINGS, ATTITUDES, AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES WITH RESPECT TO CRIMINALITY AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS CAN ALSO PROVIDE MATERIAL ON THE SUBJECT'S PERCEPTIONS OF AUTHORITY FIGURES AND THE VICTIMS OF CRIMES. THE PAPER ALSO CONSIDERS THE CRIMINAL OFFENDER'S SEQUENTIAL ARRANGEMENTS OF THE HOLD-UP ITEM AND SUGGESTS THAT THE TENDENCY OF MANY OFFENDERS TO ARRANGE THE PICTURE SEQUENCE INTO A SPECIFIC INCORRECT PATTERN (ABCD), MAY BE RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL OFFENDER'S ACTUAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC