Using selective MMPl-2 clinical scales to predict the severity of prison infractions for first degree murderers in a maximum security prison

Author

Margarita Lynn Pauley

Date of Award

1999

Degree Name

Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Delbert Lawhon

Second Advisor

Robert Rubenstein

Third Advisor

Tony Goudy

Fourth Advisor

Stephen L. O’Keefe

Abstract

The MMPI-2 was administered to 56 adult male offenders in a maximum-security prison serving a life sentence for first degree murder. This study evaluated the predictive ability of the MMPI-2 scales 4, 6 and 9 to distinguish among groups of inmates with high and low infraction rates. Results indicated that as the weighted infraction rate (WRI) increased above 9, the T score on scale 4 sharply decreased at the same rate of the increase for 0-9 WRI. Results also supported a relationship where as the T score on scale 9 increased the WIR also increased. Inmates who refused to comply with psychological testing have a lower WIR as compared to the other two sample groups. MMPI-2 scales 4 and 9 have predictive abilities with offenders in regards to the level of infractions.

Subject(s)

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

Prison psychology – Case studies.

Recommended Citation

Pauley, Margarita Lynn, "Using selective MMPl-2 clinical scales to predict the severity of prison infractions for first degree murderers in a maximum security prison" (1999). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1783.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1783