Psychopathy, conduct disorder, and stigma: does diagnostic labeling influence juvenile probation officer recommendations?
This study investigated the potential influence of labeling a juvenile as psychopathic. Juvenile probation officers (JPOs; N = 260) rendered hypothetical recommendations based on eight mock psychological evaluations. The evaluations varied the presence of two diagnostic criteria (antisocial behavioral history and psychopathic personality traits) and diagnostic labels (psychopathy, conduct disorder, no diagnosis) in order to distinguish criterion effects from labeling effects. The diagnostic criteria of antisocial behavior had a substantial effect on JPO recommendations (effect sizes .50-.79), while the diagnostic criteria of psychopathic personality traits had a more limited effect. Surprisingly, diagnostic labels had little effect, and there were no appreciable differences between conduct disorder and psychopathy diagnoses. These findings illustrate the importance of distinguishing diagnostic criterion effects from diagnostic labeling effects.
Murrie
Daniel C
DC
Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2447, USA. murrie@shsu.edu
Cornell
Dewey G
DG
McCoy
Wendy K
WK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires