Use of the MMPI-A to assess personality of juvenile male delinquents who are sex offenders and nonsex offenders

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between offender type and personality in 21 juvenile males adjudicated for crimes of a sexual nature and 30 juvenile males adjudicated for nonsexual offenses including Possession of Narcotics, Burglary, Criminal Mischief, Assault, and other crimes involving property. Subjects who were aged 13 to 17 years (mean age 15) and committed to the State of Connecticut, Long Lane School, were administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A). Scores on Psychopathic Deviate and Schizophrenia scales contributed most to the juveniles being classified as sex offenders, whereas scores on Hysteria and Psychasthenia contributed primarily to subjects being classified as nonsex offenders. A single discriminant function attained statistical significance, thereby correctly classifying 77% of the nonsex offenders and 71% of the sex offenders. Results indicate that sex offenders may be distinguished from nonsex offenders according to clinical scales of the MMPI-A.