NCJ Number
200422
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2003 Pages: 235-243
Editor(s)
Vincent B. Van Hasselt,
Michel Hersen
Date Published
May 2003
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) studies, from the initial test publication through December 1998, with patients in the psychological assessment of domestic violence.
Abstract
Domestic violence has recently become the focus of attention for assessment psychologists who continue to find ways of identifying and redressing this problem. Derived from Millon’s 1994 bioevolutionary theory on the development of personality styles and personality disorders, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) is one of the most popular self-report personality measures among broad band instruments. The purpose of this paper is to review MCMI studies with patients in assessment of domestic violence. The MCMI is seen as a useful instrument for the assessment of domestic violence in adults due to this behavior being displayed as a result of personality disorders. All MCMI studies published from the initial test publication date through December 1998 are reviewed and results discussed. The conclusions apply to male abusers since there are almost no published studies with female spouse abusers using the MCMI. The MCMI characterizes male spouse abusers as acting impulsively, minimizing and then externalizing blame, overly aggressive and possessing unmodulated anger, and prone towards substance abuse. Patients with clinical elevations on the MCMI scales of antisocial, aggressive-sadistic, and passive-aggressive should receive further evaluation for the possibility of current or past history of domestic violence. References