Personality characteristics of death-row prison inmates

An analysis of MMPI differences that appeared between a sample of 34 male inmates sentenced to be executed by asphyxiation and a representative prison population sample of 2,551 male inmates revealed that the profiles of both groups were indicative of a behavior disorder. The Death Row inmates presented significantly higher elevations on the PA and SC scales. Further evaluation of the subscale scores for the PA and SC scales demonstrated that the test responses of the Death Row inmates to these two scales were related more closely to feelings of resentment, hopelessness, failure, frustration, isolation and social alienation rather than to any delusional, dissociative or bizarre thought processes. Evaluation of the Death Row inmates' responses to four additional MMPI scales supported the previously made contention that the primary concern was with indices of a behavior disorder associated with the situational stress of being confined on Death Row to await execution rather than with indices of psychotic-appearing thought processes. In light of these findings it is felt that high PA and SC profiles scored by inmates who are awaiting execution should be supported by other MMPI scale, subscale and additional scale configurations, as well as other clinical inferences, before psychosis-related diagnoses are made.