Psychological Inventory Of Criminal Thinking Styles Research Articles

Investigating the psychometric properties of the persian version of the psychological inventory of criminal thinking styles

Introduction: The psychological inventory of criminal thinking styles (PICTS) plays a significant role in the diagnosis and evaluation of criminal thinking styles. It emphasizes the importance of cognition, particularly in the commission and perpetuation of crimes in the field of psychology. Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the persian version of the PICTS in prisoners. Method: The current research was a descriptive-applied study of the psychometric type. The statistical population consisted of prisoners in Shiraz city in 2022. The statistical sample included 519 prisoners from Adel Abad prison in Shiraz who were selected through purposive sampling. They completed the PICTS. Data analysis was conducted using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and confirmatory factor analysis in SPSS and AMOS version 22 software. Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported the eight criminal thinking styles model and the criminal thinking hierarchy model of the PICTS, and the fit indices were favorable. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for overall criminal thinking was 0.91, and for proactive and reactive thinking styles, it was 0.89 and 0.79, respectively. Additionally, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the eight criminal thinking styles ranged between 0.61 and 0.81, and the test-retest correlation coefficient was between 0.63 and 0.86. Conclusion: The reliability and validity of the persian version of the PICTS has been confirmed. It is recommended that social workers and professionals in the field of criminal psychology use this questionnaire to predict the commission and perpetuation of crimes.

Criminal thinking as a bipolar dimensional construct: Testing the risk-promotive status of the PICTS proactive and reactive criminal thinking scales.

This study sought to assess whether two scales from a criminal thinking inventory displayed bipolar properties such that high scores on these scales reflect a risk effect and low scores a promotive effect. To test this hypothesis, the proactive criminal thinking (PCT) and reactive criminal thinking (RCT) scales from the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) were organized into three categories-top 25% of scores (high group), the middle 50% of scores (intermediate group), and bottom 25% of scores (low group)-and crossed with preincarceration (prior convictions and age at first conviction), peri-incarceration (total and aggressive institutional infractions), and postincarceration (revocation and rearrest) outcome indicators. Participants for this study were 3,039 male inmates who completed the PICTS while confined in a medium-security federal prison. Results showed that the PCT and RCT each achieved a mixed (risk and promotive) effect for four out of six outcomes. Of the four unipolar effects, PCT achieved a promotive effect but not a risk effect for the two preincarceration outcomes, whereas RCT produced a risk but not promotive effect for the two postincarceration outcomes. These results provide support for the notion that PCT and RCT are primarily bipolar dimensional constructs in which high scores are associated with negative criminal justice outcomes and low scores with positive criminal justice outcomes, although there may be unipolar aspects to each scale as well. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Over-Reporting Detection on the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) Confusion (Cf-r) Scale in Justice-Involved Individuals

Over-Reporting Detection on the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) Confusion (Cf-r) Scale in Justice-Involved Individuals

Predicting Prison Misconduct With the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles: A Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis of six prison samples using the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) general criminal thinking, proactive criminal thinking, and reactive criminal thinking scales to predict disciplinary infractions was performed. Results showed evidence of significant associations between all three PICTS scales and prison misconduct, whereas the magnitude of effect ranged from small (all infractions) to very small (interpersonal aggression infractions). Although there were no signs of heterogeneity in the results, sex, race, and length of follow up served as moderators. The apparent contradiction of moderator effects in a meta-analysis with no evidence of heterogeneity is discussed.

Investigating the criminal thinking styles of mentally disordered offenders within the UK

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the utility and reliability of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) to investigate the criminal cognitions of mentally disordered offenders (MDOs) from the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe reliability and validity of the PICTS scales were investigated within an MDO sample from the UK (N = 45) and compared to PICTS data from the USA and general offenders in the UK.FindingsThe findings showed that the PICTS functioned in a similar way when used in MDO and non-MDO populations, indicating that from a psychometric perspective, the PICTS scales produce consistent results across both populations. Evidence is further provided to indicate that MDOs from the UK endorse criminal cognitions at a similar level to those in the USA and at a significantly higher level than general UK offenders.Practical implicationsThe implications and insight that these findings provide into the criminal cognitions of MDOs are discussed, with specific focus on the significant difference between general offenders and offenders with serious mental illness.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to use the PICTS with MDOs in the UK, comparing the criminal thinking styles of MDOs and non-MDOs.

Mediating the age at first conviction–recidivism relationship with reactive criminal thinking

ABSTRACT An early age of onset for criminal behavior has long been considered a major predictor of future offending and recidivism, but there is limited information on the mechanism or mechanisms responsible for this effect. In the current study, it was predicted that reactive criminal thinking (RCT), but not proactive criminal thinking (PCT), would mediate the well-documented connection between an early age of criminal conviction and subsequent recidivism. This hypothesis was tested in a group of 1,435 adult male offenders assessed with the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) as they matriculated through a medium security federal prison. All participants were eventually released from custody and followed for a period of 1 to 76 months. Consistent with the research hypothesis, RCT, but not PCT, predicted time-to-event recidivism in a standard Cox regression analysis and mediated the relationship between age at time of first criminal conviction and recidivism in a mediational path analysis. These results suggest that early onset criminality has the capacity to predict RCT, and the disruptive effect this has on a person’s ability to exercise control over their behavior increases their odds of reoffending once they are released from prison.

Effectiveness of Self-Compassion Intervention on Criminal Thinking in Male Prisoners.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-compassion intervention on criminal thinking in male prisoners. A quasi-experimental design utilizing pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test and waiting-list control groups was conducted. A total of 24 male prisoners were selected by purposeful sampling and randomized into experimental and waiting list control groups. Participants of experimental group received eight sessions of self-compassion intervention; and all participants answered to psychological inventory of criminal thinking styles (PICTS) as dependent variable at three time points (pre-test, post-test, and 2-month follow-up). A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Results showed criminal thinking was significantly decreased in experimental group, as compared to control, at post-test phase (p < .01); and improvement of criminal thinking in the follow-up phase has also been continued (p < .05). Therefore, to reduce criminal behaviors or rehabilitation of prisoners, self-compassion based intervention can be used.

Gender and criminal thinking among individuals convicted of white-collar crimes

ABSTRACTOne possible explanation for the gender distribution of white-collar offending may be gender related differences in criminal thinking styles. This paper uses the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) to compare women and men convicted of white-collar type crimes on eight different thinking styles and three summary scales. The results showed that both women and men convicted of white-collar type crimes had low criminal thinking scores on the PICTS. On some styles, women scored higher than men, but the differences were small. Regression analyses found that after controlling for other factors gender predicted proactive, reactive, and general criminal thinking: on average women scored higher than men on all three scales. However, the results also showed that measures of risk and needs were stronger predictors of criminal thinking than gender. Recommendations for future research and policy to address gender similarities and differences among people convicted of white-collar type offenses are discussed.

The Validity of the PICTS-SV and Its Effectiveness with Positive Impression Management: An Investigation in a Court-Mandated Substance Use Treatment Facility

Forensic practitioners are regularly called on to conduct highly consequential evaluations of risk for recidivism and violence. Accordingly, numerous specialized risk assessment measures have been developed to evaluate an array of relevant variables. As one conceptual approach, the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) assesses criminal thinking as a dynamic criminogenic need with predictive validity beyond historical factors. Because of its high reading level, however, a simplified version (PICTS-SV) was recently developed. The current investigation sought to (a) examine the two versions’ direct concurrence and (b) test the PICTS-SV’s vulnerability to risk minimization (RM). Two separate studies recruited 150 participants from a court-mandated substance use treatment facility. Study 1 established the PICTS-SV’s concurrent validity with the PICTS, especially at the composite level. Study 2 observed its robust resistance to RM distortion, although some validity scale revisions appear warranted. Overall, these results support the PICTS-SV’s utility for informing effective interventions and accurate risk determinations.

Critique of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles.

The Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) is a self-report measure which is given to individuals who have been involved in criminal activity or are known to the Criminal Justice System. Although the PICTS is extensively used and its psychometric properties supported within the research, no critique has yet specifically assessed its utility with forensic populations. Therefore, the aim of the critique was to analyse the scientific and psychometric properties of the PICTS. Adaptions have been made to the PICTS from the first to the fourth revision due to issues with the reliability and validity of the measure. Although the PICTS does have satisfactory internal and retest reliability, the reliability of the validity scales within the measure has continued to be poor. Furthermore, no independent research on the measure has been undertaken. As such, gaps in research and issues that need to be addressed have been highlighted. Practical implications, limitations, and future research are also discussed.

Criminal Thinking as a Risk Factor for Psychiatric Inpatient Aggression

Thinking styles that predispose offenders to antisocial behavior have been shown to predict violence and aggression among inmates. This study explored this relationship among civil psychiatric inpatients. Medical records of N = 74 discharged patients were reviewed for inpatient incidents using the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS), occurring subsequent to the administration of several measures including the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Univariate negative binomial regression models demonstrated that a higher rate of aggressive incidents was predicted by higher PICTS Denial of Harm, higher BPRS Hostile Suspiciousness scores, and lower educational attainment. Violence (i.e., physical aggression towards others) was predicted by higher BPRS Hostile Suspiciousness, lower education, and younger age in univariate analyses. In multivariate negative binomial regression models using the above independent predictors, higher BPRS-Hostile Suspiciousness scores and lower educational attainment significantly predicted both outcomes. This study’s results reinforce the importance of symptom-driven hostility to predicting inpatient aggression and violence, while highlighting the relatively minor role of specific criminal thinking styles in aggressive behavior among institutionalized psychiatric patients.

Assessing the Proactive and Reactive Dimensions of Criminal Thought Process: Divergent Patterns of Correlation With Variable- and Person-Level Measures of Criminal Risk and Future Outcome

The goal of this study was to determine whether measures of proactive and reactive criminal thinking display divergent patterns of correlation with outside criteria. A sample of 3,039 male medium-security federal prisoners who completed the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) served as participants in this study. Despite being highly correlated (r = .75), the PICTS proactive and reactive scales displayed divergent patterns of correlation with the eight risk/outcome measures. As predicted, the proactive scale corresponded with lower criminal risk, older age of first conviction, and decreased odds of prior substance misuse and mental illness, whereas the reactive scale corresponded with higher criminal risk, earlier age of first conviction, greater odds of prior substance misuse and mental illness, and more evidence of subsequent arrest. Contrary to predictions, the proactive scale was associated with increased rather than decreased commission of disciplinary infractions in prison. When participants with elevated proactive scores were compared to participants with elevated reactive scores on the eight risk/outcome variables, the results revealed that the two profiles were moderately negatively correlated. Thus, although proactive criminal thinking is associated with below-average criminal risk and below-average future negative outcomes, reactive criminal thinking does just the opposite.

Criminality, thinking patterns and treatment effects – evaluation of the Swedish cognitive intervention programme ‘new challenges’ targeting adult men with a criminal lifestyle

ABSTRACTThe cognitive intervention programme ‘New Challenges’ targeting adult men with a criminal lifestyle was evaluated in a pilot study. The participants were divided into a cognitive treatment group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 11). In the control group, six participants had no treatment and five participated in 12-step treatment. The participants were measured pre and post using the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS), the abridged version of sense of coherence (SOC), Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and Bergström’s quality of programme delivery (QPD). The results of the treatment group showed that criminal thinking patterns dropped significantly from high values to close to normal level. SOC and positive affect increased significantly in the treatment group. Both SOC and positive affect showed positive correlation with QPD. Regarding the possible influence of the 12-step treatment, there was no difference in the control group between participants receiving 12-step treatment and those not receiving treatment. The main conclusion is that the cognitive treatment programme ‘New Challenges’ can contribute to reduced criminal thinking and increased SOC and positive affect, which may prove to be important precursors of reduced criminality.

Evaluation of the cognitive intervention programme ‘A New Direction’ targeting young offenders in Sweden

The treatment of offenders has changed from focusing on risk management to also emphasizing salutogenic experiences as a protective factor. The programme ‘A New Direction’ involves cognitive intervention combining the above-mentioned approaches to treat young criminals and young persons at risk of developing a criminal lifestyle. In evaluating this programme, 61 participants from the Swedish social services and youth care facilities were divided into two treatment groups and two control groups. All participants were subjected to pre- and post-measurements using two questionnaires: the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) and the Sense of Coherence (SOC-13). The two treatment groups followed the programme during one week and 9–30 weeks, respectively, with the control groups measured at approximately the corresponding time intervals. The results show reduced PICTS from high to low levels and increased SOC only for the multi-week treatment group. Although the recidivism analysis revealed a greater reduction of convicted offences in the multi-week treatment group compared with the control group, the finding is tentative because of small sample sizes. To conclude, cognitive intervention shows promise for reducing criminal thinking patterns and increasing sense of coherence, which may have beneficial effects on the behaviour of young offenders.

A Preliminary Investigation of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles–Layperson Edition–Short Form

The Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) is commonly used to assess criminal thinking (thoughts related to criminal behavior); however, the item wording may not be an appropriate assessment for individuals without a criminal history (laypersons) who still may be at risk of engaging in crime. Therefore, a layperson version of the PICTS may more accurately assess criminal thinking among this group. This study examined the psychometric properties of the PICTS–Layperson–Short Form (PICTS-L-SF). Participants were 619 college students without a criminal justice involvement history. Analyses of the PICTS-L-SF indicated that a bifactor model fit the data better than a one- and two-factor model (general criminal thinking; proactive and reactive criminal thinking). Results provide strong evidence for the reliability and validity of the PICTS-L-SF, suggesting it can be used with individuals who are not criminal justice involved to assess criminal thinking.

Testing the construct validity of the PICTS proactive and reactive scores against six putative measures of proactive and reactive criminal thinking

ABSTRACTThis study tested the construct validity of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) Proactive (P) and Reactive (R) scores. The layperson version of the PICTS was administered to 277 (65 male, 212 female) undergraduates and correlated with putative measures of proactive and reactive criminal thinking. The hypothesis that P and the proactive scales would correlate ≥.30 in zero-order correlations and regression equations controlling for R, whereas R and the reactive scales would correlate ≥.30 in zero-order correlations and regression equations controlling for P found support in this study. This corroborates the construct validity of the PICTS P and R scores and indicates that self-report measures of moral disengagement and neutralization, on the one hand, and impulsivity and risk taking, on the other hand, may serve as effective proxies for proactive and reactive criminal thinking, respectively.

Partners or Partners in Crime? The Relationship Between Criminal Associates and Criminogenic Thinking

Meta-analyses examining the risk factors for recidivism have identified the importance of ties with criminal associates as well as thoughts and attitudes conducive to the continuance of criminal behavior (e.g., criminogenic thinking). Criminologists have theorized that a direct relationship exists between the association with criminal peers and the development of criminogenic thinking. The present study empirically explored the relationship between criminal associates and criminogenic thinking in 595 adult male inmates in the United States. It was hypothesized that the proportion of free time spent with and number of criminal associates would be associated with criminogenic thinking, as measured by two self-report instruments, the Measure of Offender Thinking Styles-Revised (MOTS-R) and the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS). Hierarchal linear regression analyses demonstrated that the proportion of free time spent with criminal associates statistically predicted criminogenic thinking when controlling for demographic variables. The implications of these findings on correctional practice (including assessment and intervention) as well as future research are discussed.

Predicting recidivism with the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) in community-supervised male and female federal offenders.

Higher order scores derived from the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS; Walters, 1995) have been found to predict recidivism in released prison inmates with effect sizes in the low-moderate to medium range. The current study sought to determine whether the PICTS is capable of predicting general recidivism in a sample of 81,881 male and 14,519 female offenders on federal probation or supervised release. Results indicated that the PICTS General Criminal Thinking, Proactive, and Reactive scores and 6 of the 7 thinking style scales predicted recidivism in follow-ups of 6 or more months, 12 or more months, and 24 or more months with effect sizes in the low-moderate to medium range. The effect sizes were reduced to small and low-moderate, respectively, when age and prior arrests were controlled for in a series of partial correlations. It was also noted that the PICTS General Criminal Thinking score contributed significant diagnostic information to recidivism prediction in both males and females above and beyond the information provided by a comprehensive risk assessment procedure. These results indicate that the PICTS may be a useful adjunct to other risk assessment procedures in providing comprehensive risk prediction and management services to offenders under community supervision. (PsycINFO Database Record

Criminal thought process as a dynamic risk factor: Variable- and person-oriented approaches to recidivism prediction.

The research question addressed in this study was whether an increase in criminal thought process predicted elevated risk for recidivism in a community sample of offenders. Using a 1-year change on the General Criminal Thinking (GCT) score of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) as the independent variable, time until first arrest following a second administration of the GCT as the dependent variable, and age, criminal history, race, and ethnicity as control variables, the effect of an elevated GCT score on subsequent recidivism was tested in 35,147 male and 5,254 female federal probationers and supervised releases. Separate analyses were conducted on male and female participants. The results revealed that a rise in GCT was an incrementally valid predictor of time until first arrest in both men and women after controlling for age, criminal history, and race/ethnicity (variable-oriented analysis) and predicted the presence of a subsequent arrest during a 1-year follow-up in men regardless of initial GCT score and in women with a low initial GCT score (person-oriented analysis). Although the effect sizes were, for the most part, small, they nonetheless demonstrated both clinical and statistical significance, thereby supporting the supposition that criminal thought process, as measured by the PICTS GCT score, is a dynamic risk factor. (PsycINFO Database Record

Psychometric validation of a simplified form of the PICTS for low-reading level populations.

The Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) is one of the most widely used measures of criminal thinking. Although the PICTS has adequate psychometric qualities with many general population inmates, the measurement confound of reading ability may decrease its construct validity in low-literacy inmates. To help resolve this confound, we present psychometric evaluation of a simplified version of the PICTS (PICTS-SV) in which item language was simplified but item content was preserved. We first conducted Lexile analyses to confirm the reading level of the PICTS-SV is significantly lower than the original PICTS (i.e., sixth grade versus ninth grade). We then tested a bifactor model to confirm the PICTS-SV contains the same two factors as the original PICTS: proactive and reactive criminal thinking. These PICTS-SV results are commensurate with the factor structure of the original PICTS. Results suggest the PICTS-SV is a valid alternative for assessing criminal thinking in inmates with low reading ability.