title: Reliability and validity of rorschach aggression variables with a sample of adjudicated adolescents.
abstract: In this investigation, we assessed the reliability and validity of 5 Rorschach aggression variables (AG, A1, A2, AgC, and AgPast) in a sample of adjudicated, mostly conduct-disordered adolescents (N = 150). More specifically, we assessed the interrelationships of Rorschach aggression variables using correlational analyses and factor analysis and assessed the relationships between Rorschach variables and a measure of aggressive potential (the Manifest Aggression scale from the Jesness Inventory; Jesness, 1996) as well as a measure of real-world aggression/violence (the Violence Rating Scale-Revised [VRS-R]; Young, Justice, & Erdberg, 1997). Two of Gacono and Meloy's (1994) Rorschach aggression variables were dropped from the study (AgPot and SM) due to a low frequency of occurrence. All 5 of the remaining Rorschach aggression variables and the VRS-R were rated reliably, and factor analysis of the Rorschach variables revealed 2 distinct factors accounting for 71% of the total variance. Only the AgC variable concurrently predicted aggressive potential and aggressive/violent behavior. Results lend further support for the inclusion of AgC in the Comprehensive System's (Exner, 1993) list of Special Scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Detroit Mercy, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Liebman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Porcerelli
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Abell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D015588:Observer Variation; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012392:Rorschach Test