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Aschieri F, Pascarella G, Milesi A, Giromini L. Effects of Covid-19 Emergency and Associated Lockdown Policies on the Normative Expectations for the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS). J Pers Assess 2024; 106:448-458. [PMID: 38084875 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2023.2289461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Standardized personality tests compare the test taker's scores to those of a large sample of individuals representing normative expectations. However, what is psychologically normal in one historical context may not be similarly normal in another, so the recent spread of a new coronavirus, SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19), may have implications for what should normally be expected of a nonclinical person taking a personality test shortly after this dramatic event. To address this research question, we administered the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) to 60 nonclinical volunteers from Italy and compared their scores with the official normative reference values of the two tests, which had been established before COVID-19. The results of a series of two-sample t-tests indicated that our newly collected sample appeared somewhat less psychologically healthy compared with normative expectations, and these discrepancies were more pronounced on the PAI than on the R-PAS. Implications and future perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Aschieri
- European Center for Therapeutic Assessment, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Pascarella
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Brescia, Italy
| | - Aurora Milesi
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Brescia, Italy
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Rucker J, Berry B, Sharp C. Assessing Criterion A of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders: The Potential of Performance-Based Personality Measures. J Pers Disord 2024; 38:171-194. [PMID: 38592912 DOI: 10.1521/pedi.2024.38.2.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The conceptualization of personality disorder has been refined through recent nosological advances introduced in the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD). These advances locate self and interpersonal (dys)function at the core of personality pathology. Self-report personality assessment instruments have demonstrated promise in the assessment of Criterion A domains. However, research highlighting the utility of performance-based personality assessment instruments has been largely absent in these advances, despite acknowledgment of their potential. We adhered to PRISMA review guidelines to survey and assess the potential relevance and utility of select performance-based personality instruments in assessing Criterion A domains of the AMPD. We conclude that performance-based personality measures are uniquely positioned to assess maladaptive self- and interpersonal functioning and may address some limitations of self-report measures. Toward this end, we propose a working model that provides ranges of test scores that correspond to the 5-point scale of the Criterion A domains of the AMPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Rucker
- From The Menninger Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Benjamin Berry
- From The Menninger Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Carla Sharp
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston
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Vecchio A, Roberti E, Pulido SG, Orlandi M, Provenzi L, Mensi M. Only an inkblot? A literature review of the neural correlates of the Rorschach inkblot test. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105281. [PMID: 37311472 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Rorschach inkblot test allows access to psychological processes that usually do not emerge in self-report measures and it has been widely used in clinical psychological and psychiatric settings. Recordings of brain activity during the administration of the Rorschach inkblots test could provide information on neural correlates of the underlying perceptual-cognitive processing and potentially identify neuroimaging markers of psychopathology risk. The present paper offers a systematization of the available literature on the Rorschach inkblot test and neuroimaging research. The 13 selected studies had been conducted with healthy participants and using fMRI, EEG, and fNIRS to investigate the neural underpinnings of Rorschach inkblot test responses. The neural processes underlying the visual, social, and emotional processes described by the included papers are systematically summarized. Research on the neural correlates of the Rorschach inkblot test is promising and would further benefit from studies on clinical populations, broader samples, and younger age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Vecchio
- Developmental Psychopathology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Roberti
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Sayreth Giovannetti Pulido
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Agostino Bassi, 21, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marika Orlandi
- Developmental Psychopathology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Agostino Bassi, 21, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Martina Mensi
- Developmental Psychopathology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Andò A, Garbarini F, Giromini L, Salatino A, Zennaro A, Ricci R, Fossataro C. Can static Rorschach stimuli perceived as in motion affect corticospinal excitability? PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287866. [PMID: 37440495 PMCID: PMC10343040 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been proposed that seeing human movement or activity (M), while trying to say what the static Rorschach inkblot design look like, is accompanied by Mirror Neuron System (MNS)-like mirroring activity in the brain. The present study aimed to investigate whether the Rorschach cards eliciting M responses could affect the excitability of the motor cortex by recording motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by single-pulse TMS over the primary motor cortex (M1). We hypothesized that Rorschach inkblot stimuli triggering the viewer's experience of human movement would increase corticospinal excitability. Twenty-one healthy volunteers (15 women) participated in the preliminary experiment, while another different sample of twenty-two healthy participants (11 women) ranging in age from 21 to 41 years was enrolled in the main experiment. Our results showed that the Rorschach cards known to be associated with a high number of M responses elicited human movement both as automatic internal sensations and as verbal production of responses involving human movement. However, contrary to our hypothesis, the reported internal feeling of human movement had no corresponding physiological counterpart, as the amplitude of MEPs did not increase. Possible and innovative explanations for the involvement of bottom-up and top-down processes were provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Andò
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | - Adriana Salatino
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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Rubenzer SJ. Ruling out feigned crime-related amnesia? A response to Acklin (2022). BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2023; 41:207-223. [PMID: 37071040 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In a recent paper, Acklin discussed a case of possible amnesia for a murder in terms of neurobiology, psychoanalysis, and personality assessment. Acklin accepted the defendant's claim of amnesia for the crime as genuine. The considerable literature that takes a skeptical view of crime-related amnesia was not cited, and the possibility of feigning or malingering was "ruled out" with a single sentence that does not withstand scrutiny. A review of the literature on feigned amnesia suggests that it may not be possible to rule out malingering even if the best available tools are used: There has been minimal investigation of most validity tests and estimates of base rates of feigned amnesia for a crime vary widely and make estimates of Negative Predictor Power highly unreliable. Although one cannot know from the information presented if Acklin's defendant legitimately experienced amnesia, feigning could not be ruled out using an interview and the test data cited by Acklin. I call for a moratorium on publication of further articles on crime specific amnesia that do not conscientiously examine other potential explanations and do not use current best practices for assessing negative response bias.
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Zumbach J, Brubacher SP, Davis F, de Ruiter C, Ireland JL, McNamara K, October M, Saini M, Volbert R, Laajasalo T. International perspective on guidelines and policies for child custody and child maltreatment risk evaluations: A preliminary comparative analysis across selected countries in Europe and North America. Front Psychol 2022; 13:900058. [PMID: 36275299 PMCID: PMC9586013 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.900058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Little knowledge exists on how evaluators in child custody and child maltreatment cases are informed by guidelines, the kinds of qualifications required and the types of training provided in different countries. The purpose of this paper is to provide an international preliminary comparison on how child custody and child maltreatment risk assessments are conducted in selected Western countries, and how the assessments are informed by best practice guidelines. Another aim is to increase knowledge on how the guidelines and best-practice standards could be developed further to reflect recent research findings. A total number of 18 guidelines were included in the analyses: four from Canada, five from the United States, three from the United Kingdom, three from the Netherlands, two from Finland, and one from Germany. We conducted a content analysis of the included guidelines in the database, focusing on how the guidelines address the best interest of the child criteria, guidelines for conducting the assessments, considerations for evaluative criteria, and specific guidance for conducting specific assessment procedures (e.g., interviews and observations). Findings show that the qualifications of and training provided to evaluators in child custody and child maltreatment risk evaluations are largely heterogeneous across the countries represented. Guidelines differ in whether and how they highlight the importance of evidence-based practices and scientifically validated assessment measures. Implications are drawn from the review and contextualized by international expert authors in the fields of forensic psychology, and family law. After the content analysis, discussion sessions within the expert group were held. The authors provide both commentaries and suggestions to improve the development of standard methods for conducting both child custody and child maltreatment risk evaluations and to consider a more transparent and judicious use of social science research to guide methods and the recommendations offered within these assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Zumbach
- Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Jelena Zumbach,
| | - Sonja P. Brubacher
- Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Frank Davis
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts California Chapter, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Corine de Ruiter
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Martta October
- Special Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael Saini
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Renate Volbert
- Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Berlin, Germany
| | - Taina Laajasalo
- Special Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Ales F, Meyer GJ, Mihura JL, Loia AC, Pasqualini S, Zennaro A, Giromini L. Can the Rorschach be Administered Remotely? A Review of Options and a Pilot Study Using a Newly Developed R-PAS App. PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY & LAW 2022; 16:1-17. [PMID: 35308458 PMCID: PMC8923744 DOI: 10.1007/s12207-022-09447-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has required psychologists to adopt measures like physical distancing and mask wearing, though other safety procedures such as travel restrictions or prohibitions on in-person practice and research have fostered the use of tele-health tools. In this article, we review options for using the Rorschach task via videoconference and provide preliminary data from using a new electronic app for remote R-PAS administration to determine whether the remote administration in an electronic form yields different information than in-person administration with the cards in hand. As a pilot study, our focus is on the "first factor" of all Rorschach scores, i.e., complexity. Data were collected from 60 adult Italian community volunteers, and statistical analyses evaluated the extent to which the average complexity score significantly departed from R-PAS normative expectations (SS = 100), accompanied by Bayesian likelihoods for supporting the null hypothesis. Results suggest that the general level of complexity shown by the test-takers when administered the Rorschach remotely with the new R-PAS app closely resembles that previously observed using "standard" in-person procedures. Tentative analyses of other R-PAS scores suggested normative departures that could be due to the effects of the app, testing at home, or responses to the pandemic. We offer recommendations for future research and discuss practical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ales
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10123 Turin, TO Italy
| | | | - Joni L. Mihura
- Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH USA
| | - Andrea Corgiat Loia
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10123 Turin, TO Italy
| | - Sara Pasqualini
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10123 Turin, TO Italy
| | - Alessandro Zennaro
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10123 Turin, TO Italy
| | - Luciano Giromini
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10123 Turin, TO Italy
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Neal TMS, Sellbom M, de Ruiter C. Personality Assessment in Legal Contexts: Introduction to the Special Issue. J Pers Assess 2022; 104:127-136. [PMID: 35235475 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2022.2033248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This special issue addresses a major gap in the literature by providing comprehensive, credible reviews of the psychometric evidence for and legal status of some of the most commonly-used psychological and personality assessment measures used in forensic evaluations. It responds to Neal and colleagues' (2019) call for research to improve the state of and access to knowledge about psychological assessments in legal contexts, and encourages critical thinking about forensic assessment in the spirit of improvement. These articles offer clarity about the strengths and weaknesses of a number of assessment instruments to inform psychologists' preparation for expert testimony, lawyers' preparation for direct and cross-examination, judges' evidence admissibility determinations, and scholars' future research. We assembled teams of authors with different perspectives and areas of expertise to review each tool fairly, including several adversarial collaborations. Articles on the Rorschach and R-PAS, MMPI-3, PCL-R, MCMI-IV and MACI-II, PAI and PAI-A, SIRS-2, HCR-20V3, TSI and TSI-2, and the MacCAT-CA, ECST-R, and CAST*MR are included. To increase visibility, accessibility, and impact, this issue is published as free access, meaning the articles are available to download without charge. We anticipate these articles will be widely read and useful to scholars and practitioners in both psychology and law.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess M S Neal
- New College of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Martin Sellbom
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Corine de Ruiter
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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