Further Development of the Short Psychopathy Rating Scale

Međedović, Janko and Romić, Emilija and Batinić, Nevena and Filipović, Ognjen and Bašić, Đorđe and Pavlović, Svetlana and Mijatović, Nevena and Cupać, Đorđe (2019) Further Development of the Short Psychopathy Rating Scale. Zbornik Instituta za kriminološka i sociološka istraživanja, 38 (1). pp. 23-38. ISSN 0350-2694

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Abstract

In the present work we describe the further development of the Short Psychopathy Rating Scale (SPRS), a 9 item inventory for measuring three psychopathy traits: Deceitfulness, Emotional coldness and Recklessness. We administered this inventory on a sample of 210 students (76% females, Mage=21.21; SD=2.10) who rated their parents on psychopathic traits. Analyses were conducted on 373 participants (54% females, Mage=51.47; SD=5.91). We calculated Cronbach's α coefficient as a reliability estimate, tested the latent structure of the construct using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and explored the validity of the SPRS scales by examining their relations with Triarchic Psychopathy Measure. Psychopathy scales showed acceptable reliabilities, having in mind that all scales consisted of 3 items (αs in range from .60 to .68). CFA showed good fit for the SPRS model: χ²(24)=85.57; p<.01; NFI=.88; CFI=.91; RMSEA=.078. Predictable sex differences were found - males had significantly higher scores on all three psychopathy traits. Finally, the validity of the SPRS scales was determined by establishing relations with psychopathy traits of Triarchic Psychopathy Measure: Meanness, Boldness and Disinhibition. Deceitfulness showed unique relations with Boldness, Emotional coldness with Meanness, and Recklessness with Disinhibition, as expected. In sum, SPRS measures showed acceptable reliabilities, adequate factor structure and excellent convergent and divergent validity. However, there is still room for improvement, especially in elevating scale reliabilities.

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