  We present an analysis of the central cusp slopes and core parameters of
early-type galaxies using a large database of surface brightness profiles
obtained from Hubble Space Telescope observations. We examine the relation
between the central cusp slopes, core parameters, and black hole masses in
early-type galaxies, in light of two models that attempt to explain the
formation of cores and density cusps via the dynamical influence of black
holes. Contrary to the expectations from adiabatic-growth models, we find that
the cusp slopes do not steepen with increasing black hole mass fraction.
Moreover, a comparison of kinematic black hole mass measurements with the
masses predicted by the adiabatic models shows that they overpredict the masses
by a factor of approximately 3. Simulations involving binary black hole mergers
predict that both the size of the core and the central mass deficit correlate
with the final black hole mass. These relations are qualitatively supported by
the present data.
