| Abstract: | Do provocative diagnostic labels such as psychopathy or conduct disorder influence clinicians who work in juvenile justice settings? Juvenile justice clinicians (N = 109) responded to a mock psychological evaluation of a juvenile, which varied antisocial history, psychopathic personality features, and diagnosis (psychopathy, conduct disorder, or none). Psychopathic personality features and antisocial behavioral history led to higher clinician ratings of the juvenile's risk for future criminality. A psychopathy label also led to higher clinician ratings of risk, but only when there was a minimal history of antisocial behavior. No diagnostic labels influenced clinician ratings regarding treatment. Viewed alongside other research on labeling in the juvenile justice system, clinicians appear to be somewhat more responsive to mention of the psychopathy construct than are nonclinical juvenile justice professionals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
