title: In search of the psychopathic sexuality taxon: indicator size does matter.
abstract: Recent research has suggested that a qualitatively distinct subtype of psychopathic sex offender can be identified via taxometric analyses (Harris et al., 2007). In this study we attempted to replicate the hypothesized psychopathic sexuality taxon in a group of 503 male sexual offenders using data from the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R:Hare, 2003) and five coercive and precocious sexuality items. Ambiguous to dimensional results were obtained when, in a replication of the Harris et al. (2007) study,dichotomized indicators were analyzed with summed input maximum covariance (MAXCOV). Clearly dimensional results, however, were obtained when higher correlating and more valid quasi-continuous indicators were analyzed with traditional (input variables not summed) MAXCOV, and both dichotomous and quasi-continuous indicators were analyzed with mean above minus below a cut (MAMBAC) and latent-mode factor analysis (L-Mode). These results suggest that Harris et al. (2007) may have mistaken the random fluctuations of weakly correlating and poorly differentiating indicators for a taxon. Consistent with the vast majority of earlier research,our results suggest that psychopathy (with or without coercive and precocious sexuality) is a dimensional construct.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Services, Federal Correctional Institution-Schuylkill, Minersville, PA 17954-0700, U.S.A. gwalters@bop.gov
authors.forename: Glenn D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Edens
authors.forename: Raymond A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Glenn M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Sanford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results