CSBI and SCS

Sexual compulsivity describes poorly controlled sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, and behavior. The purpose of the current study was to examine and compare, utilizing a non-clinical sample, the relative psychometric properties of two existing scales used to assess sexual compulsivity, the Sexual Compulsivity Scale and the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory. Participants were 334 male undergraduate students ranging in age from 18 to 42 years (M =19.54, SD = 2.16) enrolled in Introductory Psychology courses at a mid-sized Midwestern university. Zero-order correlation analyses were conducted to identify which sexual behaviors and constructs associated with sexuality were significantly related to scores on the CSBI and the SCS. Examination of the differential patterns of sexuality relations suggests the CSBI and the SCS may measure different aspects of compulsivity. Step-wise regression analyses indicated that the use of drugs and alcohol to gain compliance from a sexual partner, fantasies of impersonal sex, and sexual anxiety were significant predictors for both the CSBI and the SCS. On the CSBI, the final predictor that accounted for a significant increase in variance accounted for was expressing anger, while on the SCS additional variance was accounted for by sexual preoccupation. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.Thesis (M.A.)Department of Psychological Scienc

CSBI and SCS

Sexual compulsivity describes poorly controlled sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, and behavior. The purpose of the current study was to examine and compare, utilizing a non-clinical sample, the relative psychometric properties of two existing scales used to assess sexual compulsivity, the Sexual Compulsivity Scale and the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory. Participants were 334 male undergraduate students ranging in age from 18 to 42 years (M =19.54, SD = 2.16) enrolled in Introductory Psychology courses at a mid-sized Midwestern university. Zero-order correlation analyses were conducted to identify which sexual behaviors and constructs associated with sexuality were significantly related to scores on the CSBI and the SCS. Examination of the differential patterns of sexuality relations suggests the CSBI and the SCS may measure different aspects of compulsivity. Step-wise regression analyses indicated that the use of drugs and alcohol to gain compliance from a sexual partner, fantasies of impersonal sex, and sexual anxiety were significant predictors for both the CSBI and the SCS. On the CSBI, the final predictor that accounted for a significant increase in variance accounted for was expressing anger, while on the SCS additional variance was accounted for by sexual preoccupation. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.Department of Psychological ScienceThesis (M.A.

Examining the Potential for Gender Bias in the Prediction of Symptom Validity Test Failure by MMPI-2 Symptom Validity Scale Scores

Using a sample of individuals undergoing medico-legal evaluations (690 men, 519 women), the present study extended past research on potential gender biases for scores of the Symptom Validity (FBS) scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-

Differentiating PTSD symptomatology with the MMPI-S_RF (Restructured Dorm) in a forensic disability sample

The current study was designed to explore models of assessing various forms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology that incorporate both broad and more narrowly focused affective markers. We used broader markers of demoralization, negative activation, positive activation, and aberrant experiences to predict global PTSD scores, whereas more narrowly focused markers of positive and negative affect were used to differentiate between PTSD symptom clusters. A disability sample consisting of 347 individuals undergoing medico-legal psychological evaluations was used for this study. All participants completed symptom measures of PTSD and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) (from which MMPI-2-RF scores were derived). The results indicated that demoralization was the best individual predictor of PTSD globally, and that more narrowly focused MMPI-2-RF Specific Problems scales provided a differential prediction of PTSD symptom clusters. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed within contemporary frameworks of internalizing personality and psychopathology