You have been asked to predict which of several people--some mental patients and some not--are most likely to commit future acts of violence. To make your predictions as accurate as possible, which is the most important type of information for you to know?

A) Which of these people have committed violent acts in the past?
B) Which are the mental patients and which are not?
C) What answers did each person give on the Rorschach Inkblot Test?
D) What is each person's personality profile based on the MMPI?

Question

Zybrea Knight · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : A, Explanation :  Past behavior is the most reliable predictor of future behavior. Knowing whether someone has a history of violent acts is the most important information in predicting future violence. While information about mental illness and personality traits may also be useful, they are not as reliable as actual behavior. The Rorschach Inkblot Test is generally not considered a reliable tool for predicting violent behavior.

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