Psychological Assessment: Copyright 1990 by the American Psychological Association, Inc.

A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1040-3590/90/S00.75

1990, Vol. 2, No. 3,338-341

The Revised Psychopathy Checklist: Reliability and Factor Structure

Robert D. Hare, Timothy J. Harpur, A. R. Hakstian,
Adelle E. Forth and Stephen D. Hart
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Joseph P. Newman
University of Wisconsin

The revised Psychopathy Checklist (PCL) is a 20-item scale scored from interview and file informa-
This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

tion. Analyses of data from 5 prison samples (N= 92 5) and 3 forensic psychiatric samples (N= 356)
This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.

indicate that the revised PCL resembles its 22-item predecessor in all important respects. It has
excellent psychometric properties, and it measures 2 correlated factors that were cross-validated
both within and between samples. Correlations between the original PCL and the revised version
approached unity for both the factors and the full scale. We conclude that the revised PCL mea-
sures the same construct as the original and that the PCL is a reliable and valid instrument for the
assessment of psychopathy in male forensic populations.

During the last decade, we have devoted considerable effort does not differ substantially from the original. Even minor
to the development of an assessment procedure for criminal changes in scoring criteria can result in substantive changes in
psychopathy that has acceptable psychometric properties and the meaning of an item. The purpose of this article is to demon-
that is closely tied to traditional clinical conceptions of psy- strate that the changes introduced into the PCL-R have not
chopathy. The result is the Psychopathy Checklist (PCL). altered its psychometric properties and that the body of re-
The original PCL consists of 22 personality and behavioral search accumulated using the PCL can be generalized to the
items, which are completed on the basis of interview and file revised measure.
information (Hare, 1980). There is a considerable amount of
published and unpublished evidence attesting to the reliability Method
and validity of the PCL.1 The PCL has been shown to measure
two correlated factors (Harpur, Hakstian, & Hare, 1988). There We obtained PCL-R item scores for five samples of male prison
are differences in external correlates of the factors, and we have inmates (Samples 1-5; n = 925) and three samples of male forensic
argued that measurement of both factors is important for a psychiatric patients (Samples 6-8; n = 356). These samples were com-
pletely independent of those reported by Harpur et al. (1988). All of the
comprehensive assessment of psychopathy (Harpur & Hare,
inmates in Sample 3 and at least 85% of those in the other samples were
1989; Harpur, Hare, & Hakstian, 1989). White; most of the other inmates were Native American. Subjects' ages
The revised Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R; Hare, 1985) ranged from 16 to 69 years, but the majority were under age 40 (see
differs from the PCL in several ways. Two PCL items, previous Harpur & Hare, 1989, for a detailed breakdown of the ages of four of
diagnosis as a psychopath or similar and drug or alcohol not the current samples). Because inmates suffering from serious mental
direct cause of antisocial behavior, have been omitted because disorders are usually transferred to forensic hospitals, the prison sam-
they had relatively low correlations with the total score and ples generally did not include any psychotic patients. Subjects in the
were difficult to score. The scoring of some items was made forensic psychiatric samples suffered from a variety of mental dis-
more stringent by requiring more extreme instances of deviant orders, including psychotic disorders (see Hart & Hare, 1989).
behavior for a score of 2. For a few items, the scoring criteria 1. Sample 1 consisted of 241 inmates of a federal medium-security
institution in British Columbia, Canada, all of whom were serving
were modified somewhat.
sentences of 2 years or longer. These subjects had volunteered to take
It is important for the continuity of research carried out using part in several research projects. Two ratings were available for 176 of
the PCL to demonstrate empirically that the revised version the inmates.
2. Subjects in Sample 2 were 122 inmates at a provincial prison in
British Columbia, all serving sentences of less than 2 years. They had
Preparation of this report was supported by Grant MT-4511 from volunteered to participate in several laboratory and paper-and-pencil
the Medical Research Council of Canada to Robert D. Hare and by tests. Two ratings were available for 37 of the inmates.
Grant MH37711 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Jo- 3. Sample 3 consisted of 369 inmates at a minimum-security institu-
seph P. Newman.
Correspondence concerning this article and requests for an ex-
1
tended report should be addressed to Robert D. Hare, Department of A mimeographed manual for this revised PCL is available on re-
Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Colum- quest, and a more formal manual is in preparation. A current bibliogra-
bia, Canada V6T 1Y7. phy of research using the PCL will be included in the manual.

338
 BRIEF REPORTS 339

tion in Wisconsin. They had volunteered to participate in several ex- Table 1

periments conducted by Joseph Newman and his colleagues. Two rat- Revised Psychopathy Checklist Items, Their Mean Item-Total
ings were available for 72 of the inmates. Correlations, and the Common Primary-Factor Pattern
4. Sample 4 consisted of 106 inmates who were assessed, using a
French translation of the PCL (Cote & Hodgins, 1989), just prior to Mean Factor*
conditional release from minimum-, medium-, or maximum-security item-total
federal prisons in Quebec. Two ratings were available for 70 of the Item correlation* 1 2
inmates.
5. Sample 5 consisted of 87 inmates in a medium-security prison in 1 . Glibness/superficial charm .50 .86 -.25
2. Grandiose sense of self-worth .52 .76 -.16
Kingston, Ontario. They had volunteered to participate in research
3. Need for stimulation .58 .09 .56
projects conducted by Ralph Serin. Only one rating was available for 4. Pathological lying ,53 .62 .03
each inmate. 5. Conning/manipulative .58 .59 .10
6. Sample 6 consisted of 80 patients who had been remanded to a 6. Lack of remorse or guilt .53 .53 .11
forensic hospital in British Columbia for inpatient assessment of fit- 7. Shallow affect .58 .57 .10
This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

ness to stand trial (see Hart & Hare, 1989). Two raters completed the 8. Callous/lack of empathy .64 .53 .22
This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.

PCL-R for each patient. 9. Parasitic lifestyle .44 -.00 .56

7. Sample 7 consisted of 165 patients in an intensive therapeutic 10. Poor behavioral controls .50 .14 .44
program for mentally disordered offenders in a forensic psychiatric 1 1 . Promiscuous sexual behavior .37 .35 .08
12. Early behavior problems .46 -.01 .56
unit of the Mental Health Center at Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
1 3. Lack of realistic goals .50 .10 .56
(Rice & Harris, 1989). Only one rating was available for each patient. 14. Impulsivity .52 .01 .66
8. Sample 8 consisted of 1 1 1 patients at the Regional Psychiatric 15. Irresponsibility .53 .16 .51
Center (RPC) in Saskatchewan, Canada. The RPC is a forensic psychi- 16. Failure to accept responsibility .38 .47 .02
atric hospital that accepts inmates from federal prisons. The ratings 17. Many short-term relationships .27 .18 .18
were collected by Stephen Wong. Only one rating was available for each 18. Juvenile delinquency .32 -.18 .59
inmate. We did not have access to item scores for this sample. 19. Revocation of conditional release .35 -.00 .44
Each PCL-R item was scored on a 3-point scale (0,1,2) according to 20. Criminal versatility .43 .15 .33
the degree to which it applied to the individual. Occasionally, it was
not possible to complete an item with confidence, in which case the * Mean of Fisher-Z transformed, corrected item-total correlations for
Samples 1-7, weighted by sample size.
item was omitted, and the total score was prorated to a 20-item scale. b
Coefficients > 0.4 have been underlined. Coefficients for the com-
For computation of coefficient alpha, the value 1 was assigned to omit- mon solution are scaled so that the column sums of squares are equal to
ted items. Different raters were involved in assessments made at differ- those of the average of the four sample solutions.
ent sites. They included clinical psychologists, graduate students, and
research assistants. Where possible, a second rater completed the
PCL-R independently after observing the original interview (which
was either live or recorded on videotape) and reviewing the file infor- pooled-factor solution. The means, medians, and standard de-
mation. When available, these ratings were averaged together.
viations of the PCL-R total scores were highly similar for both
For the five prison samples and for Sample 8, items in the PCL were
the prison and forensic psychiatric samples. Means ranged
scored by integrating interview and file information. However, some of
the patients in Sample 6 and all of those in Sample 7 could not be from 20.1 to 23.9 (M= 22.1), medians from 20.0 to 25.0 (M =
interviewed because they were no longer at the institution; for these 22.8), and standard deviations ranged from 6.7 to 9.0 (M =
patients, PCL-R ratings were made on the basis of extensive correc- 7.95). The distribution of scores within each sample was ap-
tional and hospital files (see Wong, 1988). proximately normal. Although several different types of insti-
We performed factor analyses on Samples 1,2,3,4, and 7. Samples 5 tutions and many different raters were involved, the character-
and 6 were omitted because of small sample sizes, and item scores for istics of each sample within each type of setting were very simi-
Sample 8 were not available. Two subjects from Sample 7, for whom lar to one another.
more than four PCL items could not be scored because of missing To assess interrater reliability, intraclass correlation coeffi-
data, were dropped for these analyses. Correlation matrices were cal-
cients (ICCs; Shrout & Fleiss, 1979) were calculated for subsam-
culated after replacing missing data by item means for that sample.
ples of subjects rated by more than one rater (see sample de-
We followed the procedures used by Harpur et al. (1988), to which
the reader is referred for details. We used split-half cross-validation scriptions for №). They ranged from .78 to .94 (M = .86) for a
(Everett, 1983) on Samples 1 and 3. We next compared congruence single rating and from .87 to .97 (M = .93) for the average of two
coefficients for the best two-, three-, and four-factor oblique solutions ratings (computations based on the Spearman-Brown Prophecy
2
from the five data sets independently. A single invariant factor pattern Formula). Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's co-
was subsequently obtained for Samples 1,3,4, and 7, using the Method efficient alpha, which ranged from .85 to .89 (M= .88), and by
1 procedure described by Meredith (1964). Finally, the psychometric the mean interitem correlation, which ranged from .23 to .30
properties of scales derived from the factors were examined. (M = .27). These results indicate that the PCL-R, like the PCL,
can be considered a homogeneous, unidimensional scale (Har-
pur et al., 1989). There were no apparent differences in reliabil-
Results and Discussion
ity coefficients obtained in prison versus forensic psychiatric
Full-Scale PCL samples.

The items in the PCL-R are listed in Table 1, along with the
mean item-total correlation for Samples 1 -7 and the common 2
Whenever possible, assessments should be based on the average of
primary-factor pattern for the four samples included in the at least two independent ratings.
 340 BRIEF REPORTS

Factor Structure Factor 1 generally demonstrated higher internal consistency

than Factor 2, as indicated by both alpha coefficients and mean
Factor comparability coefficients were calculated for Sam- interitem correlations.
ples 1 and 3, with from two to five factors extracted. Only the
two-factor solutions produced factors that cross-validated
within each sample. The results for the PCL-R were very simi- Correlation Between PCL and PCL-R
lar to those presented by Harpur et al. (1988) for the PCL and The empirical factor structure and the nature of the scoring
suggest that only two factors should be extracted. changes introduced suggest that the PCL-R measures the same
Comparability coefficients for two-factor solutions of in- construct that is measured by the PCL. However, more direct
creasing obliquity were also calculated. The value of the coeffi- evidence may be obtained by comparing PCL total scores and
cients increased steadily with the increasing obliquity of the factor-scale scores directly. So far, we have been able to obtain
solutions. The most oblique Harris-Kaiser independent cluster independent ratings on the PCL and PCL-R only with Sample
solution resulted in the highest coefficients, suggesting that an 2. The correlation between the PCL and the PCL-R total
This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

oblique transformation is most appropriate for these data scores was .88; correlations of .82 and .81 were obtained for
This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.

(Everett, 1983). Factors 1 and 2, respectively. However, these values are limited
The independent two-factor solutions for Samples 1,3,4, and by the reliability of the scales themselves. True estimates of the
7 were in close agreement; all of the congruence coefficients correlations between the constructs measured by the PCL and
between corresponding factors equaled or surpassed .83, close the PCL-R are obtained when the correlations are disatten-
to the criterion of .85 used by Harpur et al. (1988) to indicate uated, or corrected for unreliability of the scales (Hakstian,
the equivalence of two factors. There was less agreement among Schroeder, & Rogers, 1988). Using ICC estimates of reliability,
these samples for the three- or four-factor solutions. However, the true correlation between the PCL and the PCL-R total
Sample 2 did not produce a solution congruent with any of the scores lies between .95 and l.O.3 Correlations for Factor 1 lie
other four samples. For this reason, it was not included in the between .94 and 1.0; those for Factor 2 lie between .93 and 1.0.
pooled-factor solution described below.
The primary-factor pattern matrices for Samples 1,3,4, and 7 Discussion
were used to obtain the pooled solution, shown in Table 1,
which represents a best fit to the four sample correlation matri- The PCL is a reliable and valid measure of psychopathy in
ces. Examination of both the pooled and sample solutions re- male criminal populations. The current results demonstrate
vealed a clear two-factor structure very similar to that de- the reliability and concurrent validity of the PCL-R. In addi-
scribed for the PCL. As was the case for the PCL, the item tion, the results of a number of recent studies (described in the
promiscuous sexual behavior failed to load above .4 on either forthcoming manual) confirm the construct and predictive va-
factor. The loadings for two items differed for the PCL-R solu- lidity of the revised version. We have no hesitation in conclud-
tion: many short-term relationships and criminal versatility ing that both versions measure the same construct and that
failed to load above .4 on Factor 2, as they had for the PCL. If findings obtained with one version are generalizable to the
anything, the former loaded on Factor 1. All three items demon- other. Both versions provide continuous scores reflecting the
strated inconsistent loadings across the four sample solutions. extent to which an individual matches the prototypical psycho-
path, as well as factor scores that permit the social deviance
Correlations between the two factors ranged from .39 to .54
component of psychopathy to be separated from the cluster of
(M = .48) in the separate-sample solutions. The congruence
personality traits that are fundamental to the construct.
coefficients between corresponding factors for the common
In addition to validating the PCL-R, these results also pro-
pattern and sample patterns transformed into congruence with
vide a strong replication of an earlier study on the factorial
the common pattern were uniformly high (range = .94-98).
structure of the PCL (Harpur et al, 1988). Of the 11 samples
The congruence coefficients between the sample patterns
analyzed to date (N = 2,119), the optimal two-factor solution
themselves ranged from .82 to .94 (M = .89).
obtained by independent analysis of each sample has been
On the basis of the results reported above, we judged that highly consistent for 10 of the samples. We feel confident that
Factors 1 and 2 could be defined by eight and nine PCL-R the eight- and nine-item scales described here are adequate
items, respectively. Scores on Factor 1 were derived by summing measures of the two factors and that results reported for the
the scores on Items 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 16. Scores on Factor 2 PCL factors will be applicable to the PCL-R factors. Interpre-
were derived by summing the scores on Items 3,9,10,12,13,14, tation of the factors as measuring a selfish, callous, and re-
15,18, and 19. morseless use of others (Factor 1) and a chronically unstable,
The interrater reliability and internal consistency of the fac- antisocial, and socially deviant lifestyle (Factor 2) remains un-
tors remained high despite the small number of items included changed.
in each scale. The mean ICCs for Factors 1 and 2 were .77 and Sample 2 did not possess the same factor structure as the
.85, respectively, for a single rating, and .87 and .92, respectively, other samples in this study. There are several possible explana-
for the average of two ratings. The mean coefficient alphas were
.84 and .79 for Factors 1 and 2, respectively. The corresponding
mean interitem correlations were .39 and .31. Although the 3
The precise value depends on whether the estimate of reliability for
ICCs were slightly higher for Factor 2, which is scored more on one rater or for two is used for disattenuation. Because some of the
the basis of objectively defined criteria than for Factor 1, which subjects in each sample were rated by two raters, these values represent
relies more on judgments and inferences about personality, upper and lower bounds for the reliabilities.
 BRIEF REPORTS 341
tions for this. The relatively small sample size (n = 122) may have Hare, R. D. (1980). A research scale for the assessment of psychopathy
resulted in a discrepant and unreliable factor structure result- in criminal populations. Personality and Individual Differences, 1,
ing from sampling error. In addition, the data for this sample 111-119.
were gathered on provincial prison inmates, for whom far less Hare, R. D. (1985). The Psychopathy Checklist. Unpublished manu-
extensive or complete file information was available. Finally, script, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
because this was the first sample with which we used the PCL- Harpur, T. J., Hakstian, A. R., & Hare, R. D. (1988). Factor structure of
the Psychopathy Checklist. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psy-
R, it is possible that minor changes in details of the scoring
chology, 56, 741-747.
procedure were introduced as the data were gathered—changes
Harpur, T. J., & Hare, R. D. (1989). The assessment of psychopathy as a
that could have led to somewhat variable ratings for some items. function of age. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Despite the fact that the factor structure of Sample 2 was Harpur, T. J., Hare, R. D, & Hakstian, A. R. (1989). Two-factor concep-
anomalous, the psychometric properties of the factor-scale tualization of psychopathy: Construct validity and assessment im-
scores derived from this sample were similar to those for the plications. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and
other samples. These scores were essentially identical to factor- Clinical Psychology, 1,6-11.
This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

scale scores independently derived from the PCL. Hart, S. D., & Hare, R. D. (1989). Discriminant validity of the Psy-
This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.

It is clear that the PCL, in both of its versions, is a robust chopathy Checklist in a forensic psychiatric population. Psychologi-
measure of psychopathy in White, male criminals. Research is cal Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1,
currently underway to assess the applicability of the PCL to 211-218.
Black, Native American, and female criminals, as well as to Meredith, W (1964). Rotation to achieve factorial invariance. Psycho-
noncriminals. metrika, 29, 187-206.
Rice, M. E., & Harris, G. T. (1989). A longterm study of psychopaths
References treated in a therapeutic community. Manuscript submitted for publi-
cation.
Cote, G., & Hodgins, S. (1989). Une mesure de psychopathic validation
Shrout, P. E., & Fleiss, J. L. (1979). Intraclass correlations: Uses in
de la version fran(ais (The Psychopathy Checklist-French transla-
assessing rater reliability. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 420-428.
tion). Manuscript in preparation.
Everett, J. E. (1983). Factor comparability as a means of determining Wong, S. (1988). Is Hare's Psychopathy Checklist reliable without an
interview? Psychological Reports, 62, 931-934.
the number of factors and their rotation. Mullivariate Behavioral
Research, 18, 197-218.
Hakstian, A. R., Schroeder, M. L., & Rogers, W T. (1988). Inferential Received June 22,1989
procedures for correlation coefficients corrected for attenuation. Revision received January 4,1990
Psychometrika, 53, 27-43. Accepted January 23,1990 •