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Psychopathy, Conduct Disorder, and Stigma: Does Diagnostic Labeling Influence Juvenile Probation Officer Recommendations?

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Law and Human Behavior

Abstract

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.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas

    Daniel C. Murrie & Wendy K. McCoy

  2. Virginia Youth Violence Project and Programs in Clinical and School Psychology, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

    Dewey G. Cornell

  3. Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University, P.O. Box 2447, Huntsville, Texas, 77341-2447

    Daniel C. Murrie

Authors
  1. Daniel C. Murrie
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  2. Dewey G. Cornell
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  3. Wendy K. McCoy
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Correspondence to Daniel C. Murrie.

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Murrie, D.C., Cornell, D.G. & McCoy, W.K. Psychopathy, Conduct Disorder, and Stigma: Does Diagnostic Labeling Influence Juvenile Probation Officer Recommendations?. Law Hum Behav 29, 323–342 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10979-005-2415-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10979-005-2415-x

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