Dimensions of self-serving misrepresentation in forensic assessment

I conducted an exploratory principal components analysis of 15 scales that evaluate a variety of possible self-serving biases using assessment data fr om 101 general forensic clients. Three distinct factors emerged, representi ng exaggeration of psychiatric symptoms versus exaggeration of personal adj ustment, exaggeration of virtue, and exaggeration of physical health diffic ulties. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the findings. The surprising fact that none of the scales contained a significant number of items repre senting the affirmation or exaggeration of positive mental health adjustmen t precluded the possibility of finding a specific factor in that area. The factor structure was similar to previous results based on personal injury e valuations alone, suggesting that this 3-factor categorization of self-serv ing misrepresentation has some degree of generality, at least in forensic s ettings.