The diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) remains controversial with its inclusion criteria substantially modified with each new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Given the continued nonconsensus about this disorder, prototypical analysis has been proposed as a method of establishing the core and most representative APD characteristics. Building on earlier prototypical research, the current study examined APD prototype with 448 inmates from three correctional institutions. Inmates differed from forensic experts on prototypical ratings in their emphasis on behavioral manifestations, especially aggressive and antisocial behavior. On a principal components analysis with a varimax rotation, three dimensions were observed: impaired/dishonest relationships and impulsivity, aggressive behavior, and non-violent delinquency. A comparison of factor scores based on earlier research revealed that the salience of “manipulation and lack of guilt” for forensic experts was not shared by inmates. The implications of prototypical analysis for the conceptualization of APD are discussed.
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