ABSTRACT
Synopsis ....................................................................................................................................... 393 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 394 Th e MMPI as a Measuring Instrument .................................................................................. 394 Pertinent Legal Cases Applied Ethics and Moral Considerations ...................................... 395 Overview and Epidemiology .................................................................................................... 396
Empirically Based Methods and Applications .................................................................. 397 MMPI Group Profi les of Murderers ................................................................................... 397 MMPI Group Classifi cation of Murderers ......................................................................... 402 MMPI Special Scales (Overcontrolled Hostility Scale) ....................................................406 Case Presentation and Analysis Integrating Megargee Typology and OH Scale ........ 408
Case Illustration ................................................................................................................408 Group Diff erences and Individual Prediction................................................................... 409
Avoiding Evaluation and Consultation Errors ...................................................................... 410 Treatment Considerations ........................................................................................................ 411 Writing Forensic Reports and Acting as an Expert Witness ............................................... 411 Final Comments ......................................................................................................................... 412 References .................................................................................................................................... 412 Legal Reference ........................................................................................................................... 416
Th is chapter presents fi ndings from objective psychological tests (i.e., MMPI/MMPI-2) in the assessment of lethal violence. It discusses the legal basis for using the MMPI-2 in court, and then presents (a) a review of the empirical literature in the use of the MMPI/MMPI-2 with murderers, (b) an MMPI-derived criminal off ender classifi cation system and its applicability with murderers, and (c) the assessment of a particular kind of murderer, referred to as the “overcontrolled” type. Cases presented throughout the chapter illustrate the use and utility of the concepts presented in the chapter.
