NCJ Number
166918
Journal
Psychology, Crime and Law Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (1995) Pages: 101-118
Date Published
1995
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Data from a systematic sample of 310 prison inmates from eight of the 21 prisons in Scotland formed the basis of an analysis of the usefulness of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, which has clinical and empirical utility in North America, to the Scottish prison population.
Abstract
The inmates were interviewed either by the author or by a research psychology. In addition to measuring psychopathic personality, the researchers used the Schedule for Affective Disorders to measure a range of other psychological disorders. Life events and long-term difficulties were measured using a modified form of the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. The research also measured the level of social support, the level of identification with prison subculture, demographic characteristics, criminal history, and behavior in prison. Results revealed that estimates of factor congruence, factor strength, and internal reliability indicated that the underlying constructs being measured in North America and Scotland were essentially similar. The observed difference in the prevalence of psychopathology in Scottish prisons as compared with North American prisons was also examined. Findings indicated that this difference is unlikely to be the consequence of rater bias. Figures, tables, and 58 references (Author abstract modified)