Variable
The SIQ was developed to measure interests of a sensational nature (i.e., vivid, exciting, savage or violent).
Interest in measuring the variable was provoked by longstanding clinical allegations that such unhealthy interests
are causally linked to antisocial behavior (e.g., Brittain, 1970 ).
Description
Originally, the Sensational Interests Questionnaire (SIQ) included a variety of topics: militarism; the occult;
paranormal; plus intellectual and wholesome activities ( Egan et al., 1999 ). The sensational aspects separated into
two correlated dimensions: Militarism and the Violent Occult. Total scores were higher in males and correlated
with low Agreeableness, low Conscientiousness, and younger ages.
The revised version (SIQ-R) has 19 items encompassing three subscales: Militarism, Paranormal Beliefs, and
Deviant Group Identity ( Weiss, Egan, & Figueredo, 2004 ). It focuses exclusively on the ‘sensational’ content
whereas the SIQ, seeking to be less transparent, included more conventional interest patterns.
Sample
The original derivation sample was a community sample of 301 individuals (56% female; mean age 531.3
years). Of these, 107 were psychologically disordered offenders ( Egan et al., 1999 ).
Reliability
Internal Consistency
Haggard-Johnson et al. (2011) reported Cronbach alpha coefficients of .86, .81, and .41 for Militarism,
Paranormal, and Deviant Identity, respectively. The lower coefficients for Criminal Identity likely reflect the
small number of items in this subscale.
Test/C0Retest
No test /C0retest reliability coefficients have been reported to-date.
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
In a study of 155 referrals for forensic clinical assessment, sensational interests were exclusively associated
with a personality disorder factor dimension defined by high loadings on low Agreeableness, and anti-social,
borderline and histrionic personality disorders ( Egan et al., 2003 ). A large cross-cultural study ( N51321) con-
firmed a robust positive association of the SIQ-R with aggression and mating effort ( Weiss et al., 2004; Egan
et al., 2005 ).Egan, Charlesworth, Richardson, Blair, and McMurran (2001) correlated SIQ scores with the sub-
scales of the Sensation Seeking Scale ( Zuckerman, 1984 ). Only two of five correlations were significant:
Disinhibition ( r5.46) and Thrill and Adventure Seeking ( r5.56).
Divergent/Discriminant
Neurotic forms of psychopathology showed no systematic association with an interest in sensational topics
(Egan et al., 2003 ).
Construct/Factor Analytic
Hagger-Johnson, Egan, and Stillwell (2011) used latent variable modeling to test a three-factor model of SIQ-R
and its antecedents. The three-factor model including Militarism, Paranormal, and Deviant Identity exhibited sat-
isfactory fit indices.
Criterion/Predictive
Compared with matched control subjects, forensic patients scored significantly higher on overall sensational
interests ( Egan et al., 1999 ).
Location
SIQ: Egan, V., Auty, J., Miller, R., Amadi, S., Richardson, C., & Gargan, I. (1999). Sensational interests and gen-
eral personality traits. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 10 , 563/C0578.586 20. MEASURES OF DARK PERSONALITIES
V. VICES AND VIRTUES