A Rasch model analysis of NEO PI-R fearless dominance and impulsive antisociality scales

This study reports a Rasch model analysis of psychopathic trait measures of fearless dominance and impulsive antisociality (Witt et al., 2010). Through use of secondary data analysis (N = 200), these scales were evaluated to determine whether they provided effective dimensional measurement evidenced by a) one-dimensional structure, b) broad targeting of the latent dimensions, and c) invariance across men and women. Only fearless dominance achieved an invariant one-dimensional structure after slight modification. Both fearless dominance and impulsive antisociality had a restricted range in targeting of the latent trait dimensions. With one exception, scale items did not exhibit differential item functioning across men and women. Implications of the results are discussed within the context of Rasch analysis and the conceptualization of psychopathy.