Development of a “Psychopathic“ Scale for the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI)

Abstract

An empirical psychopathic deviate scale (Pyp) for the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) was developed with 785 subjects by selecting items which differentiated presumed psychopathic (criminals, opiate addicts and alcoholics) and nonpsychopathic groups (mentally ill and normal). The scale, consisting of 74 items, highly distinguished the psychopathic and nonpsychopathic groups and was significantly correlated with three independent measures of social deviation. Criminals and addicts were most socially deviant, alcoholics were intermediate, and normal subjects were the least deviant. Better overall differentiation of pertinent groups is obtained with the Pyp scale than with other commonly used standard tests such as the MMPI, CPI, 16 P. F., and GZTS. It is thought that the psychopathic factor is a minor personality factor which accounts for only a small proportion of variability of responses to inventory questions which have negative social implications.