Sex differences in relationships between the WAIS-R subtests and the Harris-Lingoes subscales for psychopathic deviancy in the normal population

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify cognitive descriptors for the Harris-Lingoes subscales of the MMPI-2, for Scale 4, Psychopathic Deviate (Pd), for a normal population. Subjects completed the WAIS-R and the MMPI-2 and then their scores for the WAIS-R subtests (Information, Digit Span, Vocabulary, Arithmetic, Comprehension, Similarities, Picture Completion, Picture Arrangement, Block Design, Object Assembly, and Digit Symbol) and MMPI-2 Scale 4 subscales [Familial Discord (Pd1), Authority Conflict (Pd2), Social Imperturbability (Pd3), Social Alienation (Pd4), Self-Alienation (Pd5)] were correlated. The main findings were, first, that Pd1 for females, correlated negatively with all WAIS-R subtests except Digit Span and Object Assembly, but not for males to the same extent. Second, Pd4 showed different patterns of negative correlations for males and females, which suggested that the effects of social alienation on cognitive performance is different for males and females. Third, Pd5 also showed sex differences, with different patterns of negative correlations. The results indicate that sex is an important variable when considering the cognitive style of the people with MMPI-2 Scale 4 elevations.