Abstract
This study examined the factor structure of antisocial attitudes with a sample of 331 male adult offenders. Principal components analysis on the Criminal Sentiments Scale resulted in a two-factorsolution using Velicer's Minimal Average Partial (MAP) test and Cattell's Scree test. Factor 1 was labeled Contempt for Criminal Justice Personnel, and Factor2 was labeled Disrespect for Conventional Law. Each of the factor scales had a similar pattern of correlations with the index offence measures and postdictive offending data In addition, this factor structure did not make an improvement over the original scales in the prediction of recidivism. An additional contributor to the two-factor structure was the presence of a response style. The first factor included mostly true-keyed items, and the second factor mostly false-keyed items. The discussion offers direction in constructing measures of antisocial attitudes.
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