NCJ Number
75521
Journal
Journal of Personality Assessment Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: (1980) Pages: 228-233
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The Palo Alto Destructive Content Scale, which was developed to assess assaultive behavior in men in Veterans Hospital settings, is described and its predictive accuracy highlighted.
Abstract
The subjects included assaultive nonreoffenders, assaultive reoffenders, rapists, murderers, and nonassaultive child molesters. Each group of men was administered the Rorschach test, and the mean destructive content score was computed. The Palo Alto Destructive Content Scale is scored in five categories: nondestructive responses (one point), derogatory responses (two points), victim of destructive behavior responses (three points), possibly destructive responses (four points), and destructive responses (five points). Answers in both free association and inquiry phases are scored, and a mean score is determined. In addition, a color score was obtained as a possible measure of aggressiveness. The results showed that the destructive content score can significantly differentiate short term success or lack of it in the community in male offenders. As the patient's score goes further above the mean for assaultive offenders, an increased certainty of reoffending in a short time exists. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between the scores of the murderers and rapists, and this points out that rape is essentially an aggressive act rather than a specifically sexual one. The color score did not add any significance to the differences among the groups. Related studies are reviewed. Data tables and an 11-item reference list are included.