The Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles

Abstract

The validity scales of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS)—Confusion (Cf) and Defensiveness (Df)—were subjected to empirical analysis by contrasting inmates in three response set conditions: nonsimulation, positive simulation, and negative simulation. Relative to inmates in the nonsimulation group, inmates in the negative simulation condition attained significantly higher scores on the Cf scale and on seven of the eight PICTS thinking style scales. The Df scale, on the other hand, failed to differentiate among the three groups. The problems associated with using the Cf and Df scales to identify dissimulation on the PICTS are discussed.