Testing Methods and Determination of Personality Forensic Psychology Testing Methods and Determination of Personality

Forensic Psychology Forensic Psychology has as its goal the detection of criminal tendencies rooted in a person’s mental state, rather than as a result of their economic or cultural state. As a corollary, it seeks to determine if a persons actions were caused by a mental defect, or simply the result of a willful act of criminal behavior in an otherwise sane person.

Personality Assessment

Definitions: Mackinnon (1959) Personality refers to “factors” inside people that explain their behavior The sum total of typical ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that makes a person unique.

Definitions: DSM-IV-TR (2000) Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders “Are enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself that are exhibited in a wide range of social and personal context.

Definitions: R.B. Cattell (1950) The personality of an individual is that which enables us to predict what he will do in a given situation”

3 Facts to Consider When Defining Personality Individuals are unique Individuals behave differently in different situations Although individuals are unique and behave inconsistently across situations, there is considerable commonality in human behavior

“Personality” as a construct may include: Emotional responses Social behavior Emotional thoughts and behavior Motivations Values Interests Methods of Measuring Personality: Paper & pencil tests: questionnaires, inventories Situational exercises Field or natural observations Projective measures

Projective Techniques

The Projective Techniques Projective tests allow the examinee to respond to vague stimuli with their own impressions The assumption is that the examinee will project his unconscious needs, motives, and conflicts onto the neutral stimulus Word association tests, inkblot tests, sentence completion tests, storytelling in response to pictures, etc.

The Projective Techniques Three features: Disguised: no “correct” responses Global: the whole personality Reveals unconscious aspects of personality Types: Inkblot: Rorschach Picture interpretation: TAT Sentence completion: Rotter Incomplete SB Picture construction: DAP

Examples of Projectives Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB) Complete the following sentences to express your real feelings: I like …….. My greatest fear …….. This Forensic Science instructor is ……..

Projective Tests: Psychological diagnostic tests in which the test material is unstructured so that any response will reflect a projection of some aspect of the subject's underlying personality and psychopathology Rorschach test (inkblot test)

Administering the Rorschach The test is usually administered with as little instruction and information as possible The tester asks 'What might this be? and gives no clues or restrictions on what is expected as a response Anxious subjects often do ask questions, and vague answers are offered Some advocate sitting beside the subject to avoid giving clues by facial expression If only one response is given, some hint to find more may be offered: "Some people see more than one thing.“

Thematic Apperception Test The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a projective test, based on the assumption that the subject will project aspects of their personality onto the ambiguous stimuli presented to them in the black and white cards.

Thematic Apperception Test Subjects are presented with a card and instructed to make up a creative, imaginative story with a beginning, a middle and an end. Examples of the cards include:

TAT Example

TAT Example Does this image suggest a positive or negative thought? Does the direction of the climber indicates a pessimistic or optimistic outlook in life? A 1994 study by George and Waehler suggests that ½ see the climber going up, 1/3 see the climber going down, the rest see him static….

TAT Applications Useful in determining a patients outlook. Does an individual bring the hero to a positive or negative ending?

Card 15 man in graveyard; Card 13MF naked woman and man regret 20

EMILY (CARD 15) “This man is the, uh, groundskeeper and gatekeeper of the, uh, cemetery there. He actually was, as part of his job when he was given it, he was actually given, like, a small house that’s actually almost in the cemetery. Because since he was given the job and the house, the cemetery has expanded a bit.” Card 15, avoidance/positive outcome 21

MATTIAS (CARD 15) “For years grave keeper Bob walked around the cemetery he took care of every night. He went to each stone just when the sun set and would bid good night to every single one of the grave yards inhabitants. He felt that that way, he could best preserve the memory of those lost and hoped that in doing so their souls found rest. There was one grave, the last grave he would stop at. The grave of his wife. Every night he would say, ‘I miss you.’ Instead of ‘Good Night.’” Card 15, avoidance/positive outcome 22

Card 15 man in graveyard; Card 13MF naked woman and man regret 23

GABBY (CARD 15) I think umm these two are husband and wife and I think he came home and his wife was already asleep and he seems like he is still in his work clothes so he must have had a bad day at work because of the way that he is holding his arm over his eyes he might have been crying. I think he’s going to try to wake his wife up to tell her about what happened that made him so upset. [ADMINISTRATOR: What happens when he wakes his wife up to tell her about what happened?] GABBY: I think his wife is going to comfort him and listen.

“What, what. I don’t even know what this is “What, what? I don’t even know what this is. It looks like she is up in a tree? Who climbs a tree in a dress? Who does that? Ok, these two got into an argument…”

Draw-a-Person Test Originally to assess children’s intelligence Now: a screening procedure for emotional disturbance Cannot constitute a diagnosis The administration: Draw a person Draw a person of the opposite sex Draw yourself

Draw-a-Person Test Administrator Asks: Can you please draw a person? Draw whatever you like in any way you like? Administrator Then Asks: - Draw a person of the opposite sex?

Draw-a-Person Test Clinician looks for: Sequence of body parts Verbalizations during the drawing process Size & placement of figures on the page Amount of action depicted Systematization in doing the task Number of erasures Shading Gender of picture Over attention to certain body parts

Interpretation of Responses

Rotter Incomplete Sentence: Results Interpretation Designed to screen for emotional maladjustment Info about wishes, desires, likes, dislikes, fears, and locus of control Responses are scored as to the degree of conflict expressed, optimism shown, length of responses, omissions

Draw-a-Person Test Results Among the plausible relations that have been claimed: - Large size = Emotional expansiveness or acting out - Small size = emotional constriction; withdrawal, or timidity - Overworked lines = tension, aggression - Distorted or omitted features = Conflicts related to that feature - Large or elaborate eyes = Paranoia

Pressure for Social Desirability Some test takers choose socially acceptable answers or present themselves in a favorable light People often do not may attention to the trait being measured, but to the social acceptability of the statement This represents unwanted variance, but can be detected

Social Desirability (cont.) Example items: Friends would call me spontaneous! Poppycock, you’re repressed and fearful, and do whatever everyone else is doing… People know they can count on me to finish what I start! Not, you’re a slacker, and will bail as soon as it gets difficult… I would rather work in a group than by myself! Phooey, you’re a sociopath, but don’t want to look like one…

Faking Responses Faking -- some test takers may respond in a particular way to cause a desired outcome may “fake good” (e.g., lie to get a job) to create a favorable impression may “fake bad” (e.g., in clinical or forensic settings) as a cry for help or to appear mentally disturbed so you get away with murder

“Faking Bad” People try to look worse than they really are Reasons: Common problem in clinical settings Reasons: Cry for help Want to plea insanity in court Want to avoid draft into military Want to show psychological damage Most people who fake bad overdo it

Examples of Personality Types Introvert - I don’t get much pleasure from chatting with people. I’m often a loner. Extrovert – I’m an outgoing person, sociable, and the  life of the party! Neurotic - Frightening thoughts often come into my head, for no good reason… Passive-Aggressive - I try to avoid direct confrontation, but I’m not gonna do what you tell me to! Conscientious - I do my homework on time, always.

MMPI Table 4-6