The Perils of Untested Assumptions in Theory Testing: A Reply to Patrick et al. (2020)

We respond to a critique by Patrick et al. (2020) of our recent study (Roy et al., 2020) that raised questions regarding the three-factor model of the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM). Roy et al. demonstrated that a replicable model involving seven unidimensional factors accounted for the TriPM items across North American and European general population samples, as well as European male offenders. Despite having access to large TriPM datasets, the Patrick et al. critique relied on tangential analyses of general personality traits, using a single college sample with TriPM data as supplemental. Thus, Patrick et al. ignored findings highlighting multidimensional TriPM scales and the uncertainty they introduce with respect to the larger nomological network of psychopathy. In our reply, we demonstrate additional problems with the three-factor TriPM model and show that the seven-factor model outperforms the three-factor model in predicting correlates of psychopathy.

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Validation of the Short Dark Triad in a German Sample

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000617 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Caroline Wehner ◽

Ulrike Maaß ◽

Marius Leckelt ◽

Mitja D. Back ◽

Matthias Ziegler

Keyword(s):

Sensation Seeking ◽

Factor Model ◽

Structural Models ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Dark Triad ◽

Fit Indices ◽

Nomological Network ◽

Competitive Test ◽

Three Factor ◽

Behavioral Criteria

Abstract. The structure, correlates, and assessment of the Dark Triad are widely discussed in several fields of psychology. Based on the German version of the Short Dark Triad (SDT), we add to this by (a) providing a competitive test of existing structural models, (b) testing the nomological network, and (c) proposing an ultrashort 9-item version of the SDT (uSDT). A sample of N = 969 participants provided data on the SDT and a range of further measures. Our competitive test of five structural models revealed that fit indices and nomological network assumptions were best met in a three-factor model, with separate factors for psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism. The results provided an extensive overview of the raw, unique, and shared associations of Dark Triad dimensions with narcissism facets, sadism, impulsivity, self-esteem, sensation seeking, the Big Five, maladaptive personality traits, sociosexual orientation, and behavioral criteria. Finally, the uSDT exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties. The highest overlap in expected relations between SDT and uSDT, and convergent and discriminant measures was also found for the three-factor model. Our study underlines the utility of a three-factor model of the Dark Triad, extends findings on its nomological network, and provides an ultrashort instrument.

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Personality Traits as Related to Socialization: Test of a Three-Factor Model for Some Personality Scales

Multivariate Behavioral Research ◽

10.1207/s15327906mbr1101_3 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 47-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anne-Sofie Rosen

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Factor Model ◽

Three Factor

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Psychopathy in Female Offenders

Criminal Justice and Behavior ◽

10.1177/009385402237922 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 692-704 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Rebecca L. Jackson ◽

Richard Rogers ◽

Craig S. Neumann ◽

Paul L. Lambert

Keyword(s):

Criminal Behavior ◽

Factor Model ◽

Past Research ◽

Female Inmates ◽

Factor Analyses ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Forensic Patients ◽

Male Offenders ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Three Factor

Psychopathy is an important clinical construct in explaining criminal behavior, determining the likelihood of treatment response, and evaluating risk assessment. The majority of past research has focused on male offenders or male forensic patients. Psychopathy in females is relatively unexplored. The current study was designed to further investigate the underlying dimensions of psychopathy in females. Utilizing a sample of 119 female inmates from a large metropolitan area jail, a series of confirmatory factor analyses was undertaken. Previous research and clinical tradition suggest the use of a two-factor conceptualization of psychopathy. More recent research suggests that a three-factor model may better capture the underlying dimensions of psychopathy. Two-factor models of psychopathy were not confirmed. However, the three-factor model reproduced the data extremely well. Clinical and research implications of this finding are addressed.

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Evidence that three dimensions of psychosis have a distribution in the general population

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291701005141 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 347-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 509

Author(s):

N. C. STEFANIS ◽

M. HANSSEN ◽

N. K. SMIRNIS ◽

D. A. AVRAMOPOULOS ◽

I. K. EVDOKIMIDIS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

General Population ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Factor Model ◽

Population Sample ◽

Population Variation ◽

Self Report ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Three Factor

Background. The aims of the study were: first to examine, using clinical symptoms of patients as a template, whether the correlated but independent dimensions of positive, negative and depressive symptoms that have been identified in clinical psychosis, also have a distribution as non-clinical experiences in the general population; and second, to establish to what degree population variation in experience of positive and negative features of psychosis is actually independent of experience of depression.Method. In a representative population sample of 932 young men, we measured experiences of positive, negative and depressive features of psychosis, using a 40-item self-report instrument. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare the fit of hypothesized one-, two- and three-factor solutions.Results. A three-factor model of separate depressive, positive and negative dimensions provided a better fit to the data than either a two-factor or unidimensional model. All three dimensions were correlated with each other, but also showed good discriminant validity in relation to established scales, confirming their relative independence.Conclusion. The data suggest that the correlated dimensions of clinical psychosis also have a distribution in the general population, and that depressive symptoms may form an integral part of psychosis-like experiences in the general population.

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The factor structure of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in schoolchildren

10.1101/2020.06.15.20126789 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Trine Wigh Arildskov ◽

Anne Virring ◽

Rikke Lambek ◽

Anders Helles Carlsen ◽

Edmund J.S. Sonuga-Barke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

General Population ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Factor Model ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

General Factor ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Specific Factors ◽

Three Factor

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the factor structure of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by comparing the fit of a single-factor model, a correlated model with two or three factors, and a bifactor model with one general and two or three specific factors. Different three-factor solutions that varied with regard to the specification of the item “talks excessively” as impulsivity or hyperactivity were also tested. Parent ratings on the ADHD-Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV) were collected in a sample of 2044 schoolchildren (1st to 3rd grade) from the general population and in a clinical sample of 165 children and adolescents with ADHD referred to a public regional child and adolescent psychiatric hospital. Confirmatory factor analyses found a satisfactory fit for most models in both samples. However, a correlated three-factor model where “talks excessively” was included as an indicator of impulsivity and especially the bifactor version of this model with one general and three specific factors fit the data slightly better in the general population. In the clinical sample, a number of models performed equally well (the same version of the correlated three-factor model and all the bifactor models). Overall, the factor structure of ADHD seems to be better characterized by a bifactor model with a strong general factor and two or three weaker specific factors. Due to the strong general factor, we suggest emphasizing the ADHD-RS-IV total score rather than the subscale scores in clinical practice.

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Examining the Conceptual and Empirical Distinctiveness of Agreeableness and “Dark” Personality Items

10.31234/osf.io/kf85p ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Colin Vize ◽

Josh Miller ◽

Donald Lynam

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Structural Equation Modeling ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Factor Model ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Research Literature ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Nomological Network ◽

Opposite Pole

Objective: A growing research literature has focused on what have been termed “dark” personality traits/constructs. More recently, the “dark factor” of personality has been proposed as a unifying framework for this research (Moshagen et al., 2018). To date, little work has rigorously investigated whether the traits/constructs investigated in the context of the dark factor can be captured by existing models of normative personality, namely Agreeableness from the Five-factor Model. Thus, the “dark factor” may be an instance of the “jangle” fallacy, where two constructs with different names are in fact the same construct. Method: We used a preregistered approach that made use of bass-ackwards factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and nomological network analysis to investigate the distinction between the D factor and Agreeableness. Results: Agreeableness and the D factor were similar in their coverage of antagonistic personality content, strongly negatively related (latent r = -.90), and showed near perfect profile dissimilarity (rICC = -.99). Conclusion: The results suggested that the D factor can be understood as the opposite pole of Agreeableness (i.e., antagonism) and not as a distinct construct. We discuss the implications for researchers interested in continuing to advance the study of antagonistic personality traits.

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Personality of Clown Doctors

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000187 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 49-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Alberto Dionigi

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Big Five ◽

Normal Population ◽

Big Five Personality Traits ◽

Published Data ◽

Big Five Personality

Abstract. In recent years, both professional and volunteer clowns have become familiar in health settings. The clown represents a peculiar humorist’s character, strictly associated with the performer’s own personality. In this study, the Big Five personality traits (BFI) of 155 Italian clown doctors (130 volunteers and 25 professionals) were compared to published data for the normal population. This study highlighted specific differences between clown doctors and the general population: Clown doctors showed higher agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion, as well as lower neuroticism compared to other people. Moreover, specific differences emerged comparing volunteers and professionals: Professional clowns showed significantly lower in agreeableness compared to their unpaid colleagues. The results are also discussed with reference to previous studies conducted on groups of humorists. Clowns’ personalities showed some peculiarities that can help to explain the facility for their performances in the health setting and that are different than those of other groups of humorists.

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Working Memory, Mental Prospection, Time Orientation, and Cognitive Insight

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000111 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 159-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sevtap Cinan ◽

Aslı Doğan

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Factor Model ◽

Time Orientation ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Cognitive Insight ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Three Factor

This research is new in its attempt to take future time orientation, morningness orientation, and prospective memory as measures of mental prospection, and to examine a three-factor model that assumes working memory, mental prospection, and cognitive insight are independent but related higher-order cognitive constructs by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The three-factor model produced a good fit to the data. An alternative one-factor model was tested and rejected. The results suggest that working memory and cognitive insight are distinguishable, related constructs, and that both are distinct from, but negatively associated with, mental prospection. In addition, structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that working memory had a strong positive effect on cognitive insight and a moderate negative effect on mental prospection.

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