The MMPI-based typology, developed by Megargee and his associates, classifies criminal offenders and makes recommendations for the management and treatment of the ten types. Recently, several authorities suggested that type How, which is considered the most pathological group, is heterogeneous consisting of "neurotic" and "psychotic" subtypes. The purpose of this study was to investigate this notion empirically. / The MMPI profiles of 155 men (X age = 22.3) incarcerated at(' )a medium security federal correctional institution were subclassified by three clinicians into: "neurotic-like" (HowN: negatively sloped) and "psychotic-like" (HowP: positively sloped) subgroups. Comparing this clinical method of profile differentiation with five more objective procedures found in the literature, similar results were observed. This supported the reliability of the clinicians' ratings. / Next, the proposed subtypes were compared with t-tests on six dependent variables measuring institutional adjustment and three measures of recidivism to determine if they differed in behavior. The two subgroups were also compared with the other nine MMPI types (N = 1009) using Duncan's ranges. These analyses were calculated based on flexible sorting criteria which produced more general subgroups, and stringent criteria which produced extreme subgroups. The subgroups differed significantly on some measures. However, the results were not considered consistent or substantial enough to recommend a subdivision. / The third phase of this investigation considered conceptual issues. The subtypes were compared using t-tests and were also compared with the other nine MMPI types on eleven variables measuring background, demographic characteristics and psychological test results. Using the general and extreme subgroups, similar results were observed. Although significant differences were obtained on some measures, the similarities between the subgroups outweighed the differences. Differential treatment strategies for each type was not considered necessary, but some fine-tuning was suggested. / While clinicians could subclassify MMPI profiles into subtypes reliably, the major conclusion was type How is not in need of subdivision since the proposed subtypes did not differ in their behavior. The empirical procedures used to develop the typology appeared sound. Therefore, future investigators should complete an exercise such as this one before recommending a subdivision in an existing type or the addition of a new type of the system. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, Section: B, page: 2559. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74552 |
| Contributors | ZAGER, LYNNE DONNA., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 124 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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