Application and Impact of the Psychopathy Label to Juveniles

Abstract

With the development of new instruments that formally measure psychopathy in juveniles, questions regarding the negative associations with the psychopathy label have emerged. Using a vignette design, we examined whether the psychopathy label and several characteristic traits elicited punitive sanctions with regard to transfer to adult court, amenability to treatment, punishment, and dangerousness. Five groups were examined; undergraduate college students, law students, judges, clinicians, and developmental experts. We hypothesized that the traits and the label would result in negative associations, with the strongest effect resulting from the presence of both the psychopathy label and its associated traits. Results demonstrated: (1) undergraduate college students believed individuals were more dangerous when psychopathic traits were present; (2) clinicians were less likely to believe the youth was amenable to treatment if the label was present; (3) developmental experts focused on both the label and its corresponding traits in their decision making; and (4) no significant results emerged for either the law students or judges. The psychopathy label had some decision making impact on those familiar with the diagnosis but not with legal experts or undergraduate college students.