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Construct validity of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory in a correctional sample
A M Sandoval1, D Hancock, N Poythress
1Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, USA. asando@texas.net
Journal of Personality Assessment
|July 6, 2000
Summary
The Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) is valid in correctional samples, correlating with higher aggression and borderline personality traits, but not work ethic. Empathy was negatively related.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Personality Assessment
Background:
- The Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) is a widely used measure for assessing psychopathic traits.
- Understanding the construct validity of the PPI in diverse populations, such as correctional samples, is crucial for accurate assessment.
- Previous research has explored the PPI's relations with various psychological constructs, but its specific correlates in incarcerated individuals warrant further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationships between the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) and theoretically related constructs: empathy, aggression, work ethic, and borderline personality disorder.
- To explore the association between the PPI and heroism in a male inmate sample.
- To support the construct validity of the PPI within a correctional setting.
Main Methods:
- One hundred male inmates completed the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI).
- Participants also underwent assessments for emotional empathy, aggression, work ethic, borderline personality traits, and activity frequency.
- Correlational analyses were employed to examine the relationships between the PPI and the selected constructs.
Main Results:
- The PPI demonstrated significant negative correlations with empathy and significant positive relationships with aggression and borderline personality disorder.
- Contrary to hypotheses, the PPI's correlation with work ethic was not significant.
- Eight out of eleven hypotheses concerning the PPI subscales' relations to the constructs were supported.
- No significant relationship was found between the PPI and heroism.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the construct validity of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) in a correctional sample.
- The PPI effectively differentiates individuals with higher levels of aggression and borderline personality traits.
- The study highlights the nuanced relationships between psychopathic traits and other psychological constructs in incarcerated populations.