Predicting Reconviction Using the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles With English Prisoners

• NCJ Number: 204950
• Journal: Legal and Criminological Psychology Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 57-68
• Author(s): Emma J. Palmer; Clive R. Hollin
• Date Published: February 2004
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study tested the reliability of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) in predicting reconviction in a sample of 174 male inmates serving prison sentences at 6 correctional institutions in England.

Abstract

The PICTS was developed by Walters (1995) in order to measure the thinking styles associated with criminal and antisocial lifestyles. It is composed of 8 clinical scales and 2 validity scales that consist of 80 items scored on a 4-point Likert scale. The 10 scales are designed to measure confusion, defensiveness, mollification, cut-off, entitlement, power orientation, sentimentality, "superoptimism," cognitive indolence, and discontinuity. The PICTS was administered to the subjects at the point of their release from prison. Reconviction data were collected at a 2-year follow-up. Of the eight clinical scales of the PICTS, only "superoptimism" differed significantly between reconvicted and non-reconvicted offenders during the 2-year study period, even when age and number of previous convictions were controlled. Reconvicted offenders scored significantly higher on "superoptimism." A high score on this scale denotes a belief that the negative consequences of criminal behavior can be avoided indefinitely. Low scores reflect a more realistic view of the effect criminal behavior has on the actor. Sequential logistic regression showed that "superoptimism" contributed significant predictive power regarding reconviction compared to a predictive model that focused on age and number of previous convictions. Future research should build on this study, perhaps by using samples that are stratified by age and offense type. The research also should be replicated with female offenders in England. Until such research is conducted, this study does not recommend the use of the PICTS as a tool for predicting recidivism. 10 tables and 23 references