Thirty adult IIlass IIlurderers and 34 adolescent IIlass IIlurderers in North AInerica are cOIllp... more Thirty adult IIlass IIlurderers and 34 adolescent IIlass IIlurderers in North AInerica are cOIllpared on both offen der and offense variables to delineate siIllilarities and differences. Findings indicate a plethora of psychiatric disturbances and odd/reclusive and acting-out personality traits. Predisposing factors include a fascination with weapons and war aIllong IIlany of the adolescents and the deve10pIllent of a "warrior IIlentality" in IIlost of the adults. Precipitating factors indicate a IIlajor rejection or loss in the hours or days preceding the IIlass IIlurder. Results are interpreted through the lens of threat assess IIlent for targeted violence (BOruIll, Fein, Vossekuil, & Bergland 1999), recognizing that a fact-based, dynaIllic behavioral approach is IIlost useful for IIlitigating risk of such an extreIllely low-base-rate violent criIlle. Copyright
Thirty adult mass murderers and 34 adolescent mass murderers in North America are compared on bot... more Thirty adult mass murderers and 34 adolescent mass murderers in North America are compared on both offender and offense variables to delineate similarities and differences. Findings indicate a plethora of psychiatric disturbances and odd/reclusive and acting-out personality traits. Predisposing factors include a fascination with weapons and war among many of the adolescents and the development of a "warrior mentality" in most of the adults. Precipitating factors indicate a major rejection or loss in the hours or days preceding the mass murder. Results are interpreted through the lens of threat assessment for targeted violence (Borum, Fein, Vossekuil, & Bergland 1999), recognizing that a fact-based, dynamic behavioral approach is most useful for mitigating risk of such an extremely low-base-rate violent crime.
We analyzed the contemporary empirical and theoretical literature concerning the two predominant ... more We analyzed the contemporary empirical and theoretical literature concerning the two predominant approaches for scoring formal thought disorder on the Rorschach, the Comprehensive System special scores, and the methodology of Rapaport, Gill, and Schafer (1946/1968). The psychoanalytic research related to selected special scores is reviewed, and some linkages to psychoanalytic developmental theory and psychopathology are made. Recommendations are presented to bridge the gap between these two important avenues of Rorschach research, with an emphasis on empirical rigor and intrapsychic contextual meaning.
We analyzed the contemporary empirical and theoretical literature concerning the two predominant ... more We analyzed the contemporary empirical and theoretical literature concerning the two predominant approaches for scoring formal thought disorder on the Rorschach, the Comprehensive System special scores, and the methodology of Rapaport, Gill, and Schafer (1946/1968). The psychoanalytic research related to selected special scores is reviewed, and some linkages to psychoanalytic developmental theory and psychopathology are made. Recommendations are presented to bridge the gap between these two important avenues of Rorschach research, with an emphasis on empirical rigor and intrapsychic contextual meaning.
The case of a 33-year-oid W k e n d e wirh a history of sexuai assault is presented. His Rorschac... more The case of a 33-year-oid W k e n d e wirh a history of sexuai assault is presented. His Rorschach is a n~!~z e d and interpre:ed using both psvchost.~xrural (Exnea, 1956: and psychodynamic (Cooper & Arnow, 1986; Kwawer, 198Q; Meioy Ei-Gacono. in press-6) methodologies. Findings are used to understand the presence and interaction of 5o:h ckarac:er and psvchot~c persorraky organization in this mentaily ::i, sadistic, and sexnai!y predztorg voung man. The ways in which level of personality organizatior: and character fornation are interdependen: have been theoreticaliy advanced by Ker~kerg's (1984) work. Empirical research ro test such theory, hewever, has beei: virrually absent. Specific character pathologies and their rekationshi~ tc psychotic persoriality organization have likewise received little attention (Frosch, 1983; Melov, 1988). E n fact, it was not until the Diagnostic and St~tisticd Manua! 01 i'MentaI Disorders (3rd ed., rev. [DSM-El!-R]; American Psi&iiatric Association, 1981) that the diagnoses of schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder, for Instance, could he applied t s the same patient at the same rime. In this study, we present a case of a young man whi! is organized at a psychotic ievei of personality and is also a psychopathic character, Rorschach findings are used empiricaIlv to understand the nature of the reiationhip between these two dimensions oi and to provide concurrent. validity for the psychopathologr suggested by his overt behavior. Our approach to the Rorschach data is both psvchostrucrurai and psvchodynaaic.
A comparative analysis of psychotic versus nonpsychotic stalking is presented. Archival files of ... more A comparative analysis of psychotic versus nonpsychotic stalking is presented. Archival files of 25 forensic subjects whose alleged criminal offenses met a legal definition of stalking behavior were studied for demographic characteristics, stalking dynamics, psychosocial history, ...
Battered woman syndrome, although not a diagnosable mental disorder, is being successfully used a... more Battered woman syndrome, although not a diagnosable mental disorder, is being successfully used as a criminal defense at both the federal and the state level. The authors briefly critique the clinical concept of battered woman syndrome and review current federal and state case law relevant to its use as a criminal defense. Despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to hear a case involving testimony concerning battered woman syndrome, its scope as a criminal defense is expanding.
The purpose of this study was to assess nonprofessional and professional related stalking victimi... more The purpose of this study was to assess nonprofessional and professional related stalking victimization in a selective sample of 542 Swiss police officers. The stalking lifetime prevalence rate was 5.2% (N ϭ 28). Four percent (n ϭ 22, 4.1%) were stalked by nonprofessionally related stalkers, and 1.1% (n ϭ 6) of the police officers were stalked for professional reasons. Lifetime stalking victimization among officers was 10% for women and 4% for men. Both groups showed more similarities than differences. A number of police officers were reluctant to inform their private and professional network about the stalking for various reasons, including embarrassment about stalking victimization. Only the minority of the stalking cases were officially reported to the justice system. Further implications are discussed.
We examined the association between psychopathy, assessed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Re... more We examined the association between psychopathy, assessed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised: Screening Version (Hart et al., Manual for the psychopathy checklist screening version (PCL:SV), 1995), and stalking in 61 men convicted of stalking-related offenses. Psychopathic symptoms were rare, but their presence-especially that of affective deficit symptoms-was associated with victimization of casual acquaintances and with several risk factors from the Guidelines for Stalking Assessment and Management (SAM) (Kropp et al., Guidelines for stalking assessment and management, 2008a), including stalking in violation of supervision orders, degree of preoccupation with victims, and targeting of victims with limited access to external resources. The findings suggest that in spite of their rarity, psychopathic traits may be important in the assessment and management of stalking risk. Keywords Psychopathy Á Stalking Á Risk assessment Á PCL:SV Á SAM Psychopathy is a form of personality disorder also known as antisocial or dissocial personality disorder. The primary symptoms of psychopathy include an arrogant interpersonal style (e.g., superficiality, manipulativeness, deceitfulness), deficient affective experience (e.g., shallow emotions, callousness, a lack of anxiety and remorse), and an impulsive behavioral style (e.g., sensation-seeking, irresponsibility, and a lack of a sense of purpose), as well as a tendency to engage in antisocial behavior (Hemphill & Hart, 2003). Research indicates that psychopathy is an important risk factor for violent crime (for recent meta-analyses, see
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online, Mar 1, 1986
Book Reviews of patients' rights, and a listing of the legal cases cited in the text. Although th... more Book Reviews of patients' rights, and a listing of the legal cases cited in the text. Although this is a very clear and readable book, and thus will be used to the advantage of clinician, administrator, and patient alike, I wish that it were a bit more up to date. The most recent case cited is 1982 (Youngberg v. Romeo),
The purpose of this study was to compare certain demographic, clinical, and criminal variables wi... more The purpose of this study was to compare certain demographic, clinical, and criminal variables within subgroups of obsessional followers, and compare them to a group of offenders with mental disorders to attempt to replicate earlier findings. A static group archival design utilized a non-random group of convenience and a randomly selected comparison group. Sixty-five obsessional followers and 65 offenders with mental disorders were evaluated by psychiatrists and psychologists for court ordered reasons during their criminal proceedings. Both groups were evaluated during the same period, in the same court diagnostic clinic, and generally for sentencing determinations. The obsessional followers were measured on demographic, diagnostic, pursuit, victim, threat, violence, emotional, motivational, and defense variables. Inferential comparisons that used parametric and nonparametric statistics were done within and between groups on select variables. The obsessional followers had significan...
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 1999
A nonrandom sample (N = 41) of inmates from a maximum security prison were classified as either p... more A nonrandom sample (N = 41) of inmates from a maximum security prison were classified as either psychopathic or nonpsychopathic (using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)) and violent or sexually violent. Sadism was measured using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) Scale 6B, the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE) items for sadistic personality disorder, and the sexual sadism criteria of DSM-IV. Psychopaths were found to be significantly more sadistic than nonpsychopaths (MCMI-II and PDE). Overall power was relatively high. Sadism did not differentiate the violent and sexually violent groups. A diagnosis of sexual sadism was too infrequent (n = 3) for meaningful statistical analysis. The trait measures of sadism and psychopathy measures (PCL-R, Factor 1 and Factor 2) significantly and positively correlated. Results provide further empirical validity for the theoretically proposed and clinically observed relationship between sadistic traits and psychopathi...
A case of homicide by a 29-year-old male with erotomanic delusional disorder and various personal... more A case of homicide by a 29-year-old male with erotomanic delusional disorder and various personality disorders is reported. Following a month of pursuit of a female stranger with whom he had briefly conversed in a local bar, he assaulted an automotive plant where she worked, delusionally believing that she was at imminent risk and needed to be rescued. One plant manager was killed and two police officers were wounded. The case illustrates the phenomenon of triangulation, where rage toward the rejecting object is displaced onto a third party, which is then perceived as impeding access to the victim and may be at risk for violent assault.
A case of pseudonecrophilia by a 26-year-old male following the multiple stabbing death of his wi... more A case of pseudonecrophilia by a 26-year-old male following the multiple stabbing death of his wife is reported. Intoxicated with alcohol at the time, the man positioned the corpse of his spouse to facilitate vaginal intercourse with her in the lithotomy position while he viewed soft core pornography on television. Clinical interview, a review of history, and psychological testing revealed diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder and major depression (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association 1994). There was no evidence of psychosis, but some indices of mild neuropsychological impairment. The motivations for this rare case of pseudonecrophilia are discussed in relation to extant research, and a cautionary note is offered in assuming sexual causality in the investigation of homicides when there is evidence of sexual arousal or activity by the perpetrator.
The nature of the relationship between thought organization and primary process was explored by c... more The nature of the relationship between thought organization and primary process was explored by correlating clinical indicators of thought disorder on the Rorschach and formal primary process mechanisms in the dreams of 14 parents of schizophrenics recorded during a two-week period. The relationship between variability of primary process intensity and the Thought Disorder Index produced a negative correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. Variability of primary process intensity was not found to be significantly related to the length or frequency of the dreams. This inverse relationship between formal thought disorder and variability over time of primary process in the dreams of biological relatives of schizophrenics suggested that dream constriction could be a regressive marker in the heritability of schizophrenia.
Thirty adult IIlass IIlurderers and 34 adolescent IIlass IIlurderers in North AInerica are cOIllp... more Thirty adult IIlass IIlurderers and 34 adolescent IIlass IIlurderers in North AInerica are cOIllpared on both offen der and offense variables to delineate siIllilarities and differences. Findings indicate a plethora of psychiatric disturbances and odd/reclusive and acting-out personality traits. Predisposing factors include a fascination with weapons and war aIllong IIlany of the adolescents and the deve10pIllent of a "warrior IIlentality" in IIlost of the adults. Precipitating factors indicate a IIlajor rejection or loss in the hours or days preceding the IIlass IIlurder. Results are interpreted through the lens of threat assess IIlent for targeted violence (BOruIll, Fein, Vossekuil, & Bergland 1999), recognizing that a fact-based, dynaIllic behavioral approach is IIlost useful for IIlitigating risk of such an extreIllely low-base-rate violent criIlle. Copyright
Thirty adult mass murderers and 34 adolescent mass murderers in North America are compared on bot... more Thirty adult mass murderers and 34 adolescent mass murderers in North America are compared on both offender and offense variables to delineate similarities and differences. Findings indicate a plethora of psychiatric disturbances and odd/reclusive and acting-out personality traits. Predisposing factors include a fascination with weapons and war among many of the adolescents and the development of a "warrior mentality" in most of the adults. Precipitating factors indicate a major rejection or loss in the hours or days preceding the mass murder. Results are interpreted through the lens of threat assessment for targeted violence (Borum, Fein, Vossekuil, & Bergland 1999), recognizing that a fact-based, dynamic behavioral approach is most useful for mitigating risk of such an extremely low-base-rate violent crime.
We analyzed the contemporary empirical and theoretical literature concerning the two predominant ... more We analyzed the contemporary empirical and theoretical literature concerning the two predominant approaches for scoring formal thought disorder on the Rorschach, the Comprehensive System special scores, and the methodology of Rapaport, Gill, and Schafer (1946/1968). The psychoanalytic research related to selected special scores is reviewed, and some linkages to psychoanalytic developmental theory and psychopathology are made. Recommendations are presented to bridge the gap between these two important avenues of Rorschach research, with an emphasis on empirical rigor and intrapsychic contextual meaning.
We analyzed the contemporary empirical and theoretical literature concerning the two predominant ... more We analyzed the contemporary empirical and theoretical literature concerning the two predominant approaches for scoring formal thought disorder on the Rorschach, the Comprehensive System special scores, and the methodology of Rapaport, Gill, and Schafer (1946/1968). The psychoanalytic research related to selected special scores is reviewed, and some linkages to psychoanalytic developmental theory and psychopathology are made. Recommendations are presented to bridge the gap between these two important avenues of Rorschach research, with an emphasis on empirical rigor and intrapsychic contextual meaning.
The case of a 33-year-oid W k e n d e wirh a history of sexuai assault is presented. His Rorschac... more The case of a 33-year-oid W k e n d e wirh a history of sexuai assault is presented. His Rorschach is a n~!~z e d and interpre:ed using both psvchost.~xrural (Exnea, 1956: and psychodynamic (Cooper & Arnow, 1986; Kwawer, 198Q; Meioy Ei-Gacono. in press-6) methodologies. Findings are used to understand the presence and interaction of 5o:h ckarac:er and psvchot~c persorraky organization in this mentaily ::i, sadistic, and sexnai!y predztorg voung man. The ways in which level of personality organizatior: and character fornation are interdependen: have been theoreticaliy advanced by Ker~kerg's (1984) work. Empirical research ro test such theory, hewever, has beei: virrually absent. Specific character pathologies and their rekationshi~ tc psychotic persoriality organization have likewise received little attention (Frosch, 1983; Melov, 1988). E n fact, it was not until the Diagnostic and St~tisticd Manua! 01 i'MentaI Disorders (3rd ed., rev. [DSM-El!-R]; American Psi&iiatric Association, 1981) that the diagnoses of schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder, for Instance, could he applied t s the same patient at the same rime. In this study, we present a case of a young man whi! is organized at a psychotic ievei of personality and is also a psychopathic character, Rorschach findings are used empiricaIlv to understand the nature of the reiationhip between these two dimensions oi and to provide concurrent. validity for the psychopathologr suggested by his overt behavior. Our approach to the Rorschach data is both psvchostrucrurai and psvchodynaaic.
A comparative analysis of psychotic versus nonpsychotic stalking is presented. Archival files of ... more A comparative analysis of psychotic versus nonpsychotic stalking is presented. Archival files of 25 forensic subjects whose alleged criminal offenses met a legal definition of stalking behavior were studied for demographic characteristics, stalking dynamics, psychosocial history, ...
Battered woman syndrome, although not a diagnosable mental disorder, is being successfully used a... more Battered woman syndrome, although not a diagnosable mental disorder, is being successfully used as a criminal defense at both the federal and the state level. The authors briefly critique the clinical concept of battered woman syndrome and review current federal and state case law relevant to its use as a criminal defense. Despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to hear a case involving testimony concerning battered woman syndrome, its scope as a criminal defense is expanding.
The purpose of this study was to assess nonprofessional and professional related stalking victimi... more The purpose of this study was to assess nonprofessional and professional related stalking victimization in a selective sample of 542 Swiss police officers. The stalking lifetime prevalence rate was 5.2% (N ϭ 28). Four percent (n ϭ 22, 4.1%) were stalked by nonprofessionally related stalkers, and 1.1% (n ϭ 6) of the police officers were stalked for professional reasons. Lifetime stalking victimization among officers was 10% for women and 4% for men. Both groups showed more similarities than differences. A number of police officers were reluctant to inform their private and professional network about the stalking for various reasons, including embarrassment about stalking victimization. Only the minority of the stalking cases were officially reported to the justice system. Further implications are discussed.
We examined the association between psychopathy, assessed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Re... more We examined the association between psychopathy, assessed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised: Screening Version (Hart et al., Manual for the psychopathy checklist screening version (PCL:SV), 1995), and stalking in 61 men convicted of stalking-related offenses. Psychopathic symptoms were rare, but their presence-especially that of affective deficit symptoms-was associated with victimization of casual acquaintances and with several risk factors from the Guidelines for Stalking Assessment and Management (SAM) (Kropp et al., Guidelines for stalking assessment and management, 2008a), including stalking in violation of supervision orders, degree of preoccupation with victims, and targeting of victims with limited access to external resources. The findings suggest that in spite of their rarity, psychopathic traits may be important in the assessment and management of stalking risk. Keywords Psychopathy Á Stalking Á Risk assessment Á PCL:SV Á SAM Psychopathy is a form of personality disorder also known as antisocial or dissocial personality disorder. The primary symptoms of psychopathy include an arrogant interpersonal style (e.g., superficiality, manipulativeness, deceitfulness), deficient affective experience (e.g., shallow emotions, callousness, a lack of anxiety and remorse), and an impulsive behavioral style (e.g., sensation-seeking, irresponsibility, and a lack of a sense of purpose), as well as a tendency to engage in antisocial behavior (Hemphill & Hart, 2003). Research indicates that psychopathy is an important risk factor for violent crime (for recent meta-analyses, see
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online, Mar 1, 1986
Book Reviews of patients' rights, and a listing of the legal cases cited in the text. Although th... more Book Reviews of patients' rights, and a listing of the legal cases cited in the text. Although this is a very clear and readable book, and thus will be used to the advantage of clinician, administrator, and patient alike, I wish that it were a bit more up to date. The most recent case cited is 1982 (Youngberg v. Romeo),
The purpose of this study was to compare certain demographic, clinical, and criminal variables wi... more The purpose of this study was to compare certain demographic, clinical, and criminal variables within subgroups of obsessional followers, and compare them to a group of offenders with mental disorders to attempt to replicate earlier findings. A static group archival design utilized a non-random group of convenience and a randomly selected comparison group. Sixty-five obsessional followers and 65 offenders with mental disorders were evaluated by psychiatrists and psychologists for court ordered reasons during their criminal proceedings. Both groups were evaluated during the same period, in the same court diagnostic clinic, and generally for sentencing determinations. The obsessional followers were measured on demographic, diagnostic, pursuit, victim, threat, violence, emotional, motivational, and defense variables. Inferential comparisons that used parametric and nonparametric statistics were done within and between groups on select variables. The obsessional followers had significan...
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 1999
A nonrandom sample (N = 41) of inmates from a maximum security prison were classified as either p... more A nonrandom sample (N = 41) of inmates from a maximum security prison were classified as either psychopathic or nonpsychopathic (using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)) and violent or sexually violent. Sadism was measured using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) Scale 6B, the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE) items for sadistic personality disorder, and the sexual sadism criteria of DSM-IV. Psychopaths were found to be significantly more sadistic than nonpsychopaths (MCMI-II and PDE). Overall power was relatively high. Sadism did not differentiate the violent and sexually violent groups. A diagnosis of sexual sadism was too infrequent (n = 3) for meaningful statistical analysis. The trait measures of sadism and psychopathy measures (PCL-R, Factor 1 and Factor 2) significantly and positively correlated. Results provide further empirical validity for the theoretically proposed and clinically observed relationship between sadistic traits and psychopathi...
A case of homicide by a 29-year-old male with erotomanic delusional disorder and various personal... more A case of homicide by a 29-year-old male with erotomanic delusional disorder and various personality disorders is reported. Following a month of pursuit of a female stranger with whom he had briefly conversed in a local bar, he assaulted an automotive plant where she worked, delusionally believing that she was at imminent risk and needed to be rescued. One plant manager was killed and two police officers were wounded. The case illustrates the phenomenon of triangulation, where rage toward the rejecting object is displaced onto a third party, which is then perceived as impeding access to the victim and may be at risk for violent assault.
A case of pseudonecrophilia by a 26-year-old male following the multiple stabbing death of his wi... more A case of pseudonecrophilia by a 26-year-old male following the multiple stabbing death of his wife is reported. Intoxicated with alcohol at the time, the man positioned the corpse of his spouse to facilitate vaginal intercourse with her in the lithotomy position while he viewed soft core pornography on television. Clinical interview, a review of history, and psychological testing revealed diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder and major depression (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association 1994). There was no evidence of psychosis, but some indices of mild neuropsychological impairment. The motivations for this rare case of pseudonecrophilia are discussed in relation to extant research, and a cautionary note is offered in assuming sexual causality in the investigation of homicides when there is evidence of sexual arousal or activity by the perpetrator.
The nature of the relationship between thought organization and primary process was explored by c... more The nature of the relationship between thought organization and primary process was explored by correlating clinical indicators of thought disorder on the Rorschach and formal primary process mechanisms in the dreams of 14 parents of schizophrenics recorded during a two-week period. The relationship between variability of primary process intensity and the Thought Disorder Index produced a negative correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. Variability of primary process intensity was not found to be significantly related to the length or frequency of the dreams. This inverse relationship between formal thought disorder and variability over time of primary process in the dreams of biological relatives of schizophrenics suggested that dream constriction could be a regressive marker in the heritability of schizophrenia.
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Papers by J. Meloy