Moral Reasoning, Executive Function, and Personality in Violent and Nonviolent Adult Offenders

2007 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 323-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebekkah Greenfield ◽  
Paul M. Valliant

To evaluate moral reasoning and personality, inmates from a maximum security jail were administered the Porteus Maze, the Defining Issues Test, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-168, and the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence. Scores of 20 violent and 19 nonviolent offenders were compared. The control group consisted of 20 university students who indicated they did not have criminal records. All were over the age of 18. Analysis showed the violent offenders had mature moral reasoning and were more elevated on the Antiestablishment scale of the Defining Issues Test. Furthermore, inmates displayed significantly elevated scores on depression, Psychopathic Deviance, and Social Introversion relative to the control group.

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Valliant ◽  
Derek Pottier ◽  
Tanya Gauthier ◽  
Robert Kosmyna

54 inmates were subdivided into four groups and classified according to their index offense. The groups included Rapists ( n = 14), Incest Offenders ( n = 9), Child Molesters ( n = 11), General Offenders ( n = 20). Nonoffenders ( n = 20) were included as a control group. Psychometric tests including the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, the Defining Issues Test, Survey of Interpersonal Values, Porteus Maze, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory were administered to all inmate and control groups. Analysis showed the rapists and child molesters scored higher on moral reasoning on the Defining Issues Test; also rapists' scores were more elevated on the Psychopathic Deviate and Paranoia scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory than those of other offender and control groups. These results imply that rapists and child molesters have the ability to understand moral issues; however, given their personality orientation, they ignore these interpersonal social values.


2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A. Smith ◽  
Sharon E. Strand ◽  
Camille J. Bunting

This study investigated the impact of a 15-week outdoor experiential program on the moral reasoning of college students. One hundred and ninety-six university students volunteered to participate in this study, which utilized Rest's (1979) Defining Issues Test (DIT). The DIT investigates how individuals arrive at making decisions, and formulates a “P” (Principled moral reasoning) score for each subject. The groups were found to be homogeneous in moral reasoning at the pretest (outdoor experiential x = 36.07; control x = 33.08; F = 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference on the posttest scores of the outdoor experiential program participants (x = 40.98) in relation to the control group (x = 34.14) (F = 3.84). The results of this study demonstrated that the outdoor experiential program participants were significantly different from the control group at posttest. It is postulated that even though improved moral reasoning was not a stated objective, the outdoor experiential students, through front-loading, reflection, critical thinking, problem solving, and adherence to the full value contract, did enhance their level of moral reasoning. Through the combined modeling of behavior and discussion, changes in behavior can occur. The nature of outdoor experiential programs seems well suited to positively influence moral and ethical reasoning.


2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1180-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Valliant ◽  
Melanie de Wit ◽  
Rebecca Bowes

An evaluation of domestic assaultive ( n = 46), general assaultive ( n = 23) and nonassaultive (19 property offenders) groups was performed to compare cognitive (Test of Nonverbal Intelligence), personality (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), aggression (Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory), and criminal sentiments (Carlson Psychological Survey). Analysis showed minimal significant differences amongst the groups. A significant difference was found for the Verbal Hostility subscale of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. The domestic assaultive offenders were similar to the general assaultive and nonviolent offenders, with a greater disparity for the control group. Furthermore, a significant difference was noted for the Hypochondriasis scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The general assaultive and control ( n = 15) groups had similar scores, with the greatest difference found for nonviolent offenders who were least anxious. Discriminant analysis showed group membership could be identified for 89.1% of the domestic assaultive group.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1198-1198
Author(s):  
K. Farnikova ◽  
R. Obereigneru ◽  
J. Prasko ◽  
P. Kanovsky

This was a case control study involving 46 patients suffering from Parkinson disease (PD); 13 with impulse control disorder (ICD) and 33 without ICD; and 56 controls. The personality traits in these groups were analyzed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). 46 patients with PD and 56 control group subjects were included into study. ICD were identified in 13 patients from PD group. There were higher scores than pathological threshold (65) in four domains of MMPI-2 Clinical scales: D (Depression), Pt (Psychastenia), Sc (Schizophrenia) and SI (Social introversion) in PD patients with ICD; but there were not statistical difference in any of these scales in comparison with the group of PD patients without ICD. In the case of MMPI-2 Subscales and Content scales there were higher scores than pathological threshold in eight domains of MMPI-2: SOD (Social Discomfort), PD4 (Psychopatic deviate - social alienation), PA1 (Paranoia - persecutory ideas), SC1 (Schizophrenia), PA_O (Paranoia - subtle), MA_O (Hypomania - obvious), SI1 (Syness/Self-Consciousness), SI3 (Alienation self and others) and Ho (Hostility), but there were statistical differences only in one of these domains in comparison with the PD patients without ICD: SI3 (alienation self and others). There was earlier onset of the disease and higher dose of levodopa in PD patients with ICD than in PD patients without ICD.Supported by project IGA MZ ČR NS 10301-3/2009


1999 ◽  
Vol 27 (01) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Yin Fan ◽  
An-Nan Zhou

The investigation of personality traits of patients suffering from migraine headache with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is an important line of research, and differentiating syndromes in treating this disease is one of the characteristics of Chinese Medicine (CM). This study presents the MMPI-(Chinese edition) responses of 80 Chinese subjects with migraine and 40 non-headache healthy control subjects. Among them, migraine fire syndrome (MF) group consisted of 45 subjects (10 men, 35 women); migraine Qi stasis syndrome (MQ) group, 35 subjects (8 men, 27 women). The healthy control group was divided into healthy Qi stasis syndrome (HQ) group, 9 subjects (2 men, 7 women); and healthy normal (HN) group, 31 subjects (7 men, 24 women) according to CM diagnostic criteria. Statistical analysis was performed by pairs among four groups. The results revealed that both MF and MQ groups' MMPI profiles were significantly higher than that of the Normal (HN) group, and formed a 1.2.3.7 type slope. Profile deviation in the MQ group was slight, but in the MF group was serious and accompanied by a significant rising scores in F, paranoia (6), schizophrenia (8) and social introversion (0) subtests; HQ group's MMPI profile had a similar deviation as in the MQ group. The results suggest that CM migraine syndromes have an exact expression on MMPI profile, and that MMPI as an effective diagnostic method could be applied for CM syndrome discrimination. The "deviation of migraineurs' personality" may not be a special characteristic held only by migraineurs. The existence of different syndromes in migraine is one of the reasons that different scholars have reported different results on migraine by means of MMPI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 800
Author(s):  
Harriet A. Ball ◽  
Marta Swirski ◽  
Margaret Newson ◽  
Elizabeth J. Coulthard ◽  
Catherine M. Pennington

Functional cognitive disorder (FCD) is a relatively common cause of cognitive symptoms, characterised by inconsistency between symptoms and observed or self-reported cognitive functioning. We aimed to improve the clinical characterisation of FCD, in particular its differentiation from early neurodegeneration. Two patient cohorts were recruited from a UK-based tertiary cognitive clinic, diagnosed following clinical assessment, investigation and expert multidisciplinary team review: FCD, (n = 21), and neurodegenerative Mild Cognitive Impairment (nMCI, n = 17). We separately recruited a healthy control group (n = 25). All participants completed an assessment battery including: Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B); Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2RF). In comparison to healthy controls, the FCD and nMCI groups were equally impaired on trail making, immediate recall, and recognition tasks; had equally elevated mood symptoms; showed similar aberration on a range of personality measures; and had similar difficulties on inbuilt performance validity tests. However, participants with FCD performed significantly better than nMCI on HVLT-R delayed free recall and retention (regression coefficient −10.34, p = 0.01). Mood, personality and certain cognitive abilities were similarly altered across nMCI and FCD groups. However, those with FCD displayed spared delayed recall and retention, in comparison to impaired immediate recall and recognition. This pattern, which is distinct from that seen in prodromal neurodegeneration, is a marker of internal inconsistency. Differentiating FCD from nMCI is challenging, and the identification of positive neuropsychometric features of FCD is an important contribution to this emerging area of cognitive neurology.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A15-A15
Author(s):  
Andrea Ricciardiello ◽  
Sharon Naismith ◽  
Angela D’Rozario ◽  
Fiona Kumfor ◽  
Rick Wassing

Abstract Introduction Late-life depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in older adults and is associated with cognitive deficits, however, the role of sleep disturbance in cognitive deficits is poorly defined. In the current study we aimed to examine sleep macro and micro-architecture differences between those with late-life depression and controls. Secondly, we sought to determine how sleep changes relate to clinical memory and executive function measures in those with late-life depression and controls. Methods Using prior clinical data, this retrospective study assessed adults >50 years who had completed an overnight PSG study and comprehensive psychiatric, neuropsychological, and medical assessment. Memory performance was measured using the Weschler Memory Scale logical Memory 1 and 2 components, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Senior) 30-minute recall and Rey Complex Figure 3-minute recall. Executive function was defined by z scores from Trail Making Test, D-KEFS Stroop Test and Controlled Oral Word Association Test. The sample comprised of 71 depressed participants, defined by a Geriatric Depression Scale score ≥6, and 101 non-depressed participants (GDS <6 and no lifetime history of depression using DSM-IV criteria). Results Contrary to our hypothesis no significant macroarchitectural differences were observed between the groups. Less time spent in slow-wave sleep (SWS) was associated with worse delayed memory recall scores in the depression group (z=.342, p=0.008) although this was not seen in the control group. SWS and slow wave activity (SWA) were not related to measures of executive function performance. Depressed participants demonstrated a reduced level of sleep spindles (Dep= 159 ±142.8, con= 213±163, p=.03) although there were no associations with memory outcomes. Conclusion Compared to younger adults with depression, macroarchitectural differences in those with late-life depression are not as pronounced, due to a reduction of SWS and SWA power as a function of ageing. The efficiency of SWS hippocampal dependent memory processes in depression may be reduced, therefore, more time spent in SWS is related to better memory performance. This study assessed the density of sleep spindles but not spindle and slow wave oscillation coupling which may be more important for hippocampal dependent memory. Support (if any):


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Chen ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Zijing Hong ◽  
Rongrong Hu ◽  
Zhibin Guo ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory ability of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 113 participants were divided into a control group and three intervention groups. Over three months, the control group received only community education without any training, whereas for the first six weeks, an executive function training group received executive function training, a memory strategy training group received semantic encoding strategy training, and the combined cognitive training group received executive function training twice a week for the first six weeks, and semantic encoding strategy training twice a week for the next six weeks. The combined cognitive training group showed improvement on the objective neuropsychological testing (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale). The memory strategy training group showed improvement on the self-evaluation scales (PRMQ-PM). Combined cognitive training improved the prospective memory and cognitive function of older adults with MCI.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1108
Author(s):  
Lorena Joga-Elvira ◽  
Jennifer Martinez-Olmo ◽  
María-Luisa Joga ◽  
Carlos Jacas ◽  
Ana Roche-Martínez ◽  
...  

The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between executive functions and adaptive behavior in girls with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) in the school setting. This study is part of a larger investigation conducted at the Hospital Parc Tauli in Sabadell. The sample consists of a total of 40 girls (26 with FXS and 14 control) aged 7–16 years, who were administered different neuropsychological tests (WISC-V, NEPSY-II, WCST, TOL) and questionnaires answered by teachers (ABAS-II, BRIEF 2, ADHD Rating Scale). The results show that there is a greater interaction between some areas of executive function (cognitive flexibility, auditory attention, and visual abstraction capacity) and certain areas of adaptive behavior (conceptual, practical, social, and total domains) in the FXS group than in the control group. These results suggest that an alteration in the executive functions was affecting the daily functioning of the girls with FXS to a greater extent.


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