Predicting recidivism with the Psychopathy Checklist: are factor score composites really necessary?

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Psychopathology Research

Background:

• Previous research indicated the antisocial facet of the Psychopathy Checklist (PCL) has incremental validity for predicting recidivism.
• The other PCL facets (interpersonal, affective, lifestyle) generally did not show incremental validity over the antisocial facet.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reanalyze previous findings using factor score composites instead of summed composite scores.
• To investigate the factor structure and incremental validity of the PCL in additional samples.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to derive factor score composites.
• Reanalysis of 6 existing samples and analysis of 2 new samples were conducted.
• Incremental validity was assessed by comparing predictive accuracy of different PCL facets and composites.

Main Results:

• Reanalysis using factor score composites yielded similar results to summed composite scores.
• Two new samples showed a 3-factor structure merging lifestyle and antisocial facets.
• The merged antisocial factor demonstrated incremental validity over interpersonal and affective facets, but not vice versa.
• The antisocial summed composite score outperformed other facet scores, and a superordinate factor did not improve prediction.

Conclusions:

• The antisocial facet of the Psychopathy Checklist remains a robust predictor of general and violent recidivism.
• Factor score composites did not substantially alter previous findings regarding the incremental validity of PCL facets.
• A 3-factor model merging lifestyle and antisocial facets showed utility in specific samples, but the antisocial component remains key.