Neurotic, psychopathic and delinquent groups show no consistent excess of scattering, and great scattering cannot be elevated to a pathognomonic sign of psychopathy¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 1921 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Comparisons of neurotics (155), psychopaths (22) and delinquents (352) with all subjects and with normal groups reverse direction depending on the scale and criterion used. → Wallin 1921 q2 i? Individuals of every type, normal through psychopathic, include both very great and very little scatterers, so scattering cannot mark any type. → Wallin 1921

Evidence¶

Wallin 1921¶

Wallin, J. E. W. (1921). Intelligence Irregularity as Measured by Scattering in the Binet Scale. The Journal of Educational Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/journal/edu

q2 · i? · associational · r1

Group comparisons of 529 'unstable' subjects (155 neurotics, 22 psychopaths, 352 delinquents) against all subjects and normal groups on each scale, by average advance credits and by percentage passing over 10 advance tests. Results differ by scale and criterion; the author questions Mateer's use of scattering as an indication of psychopathy.

"We have found some individuals among all types—normal, subnormal, feeble-minded, delinquent, neurotic, psychopathic—who scatter very greatly, and others who scatter very little."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Scattering on the Binet scales does not support the claim that unequal development is the specific characteristic of the feeble-minded; normal pupils scatter most and imbeciles least — related