Preview
Faculty Mentor
Karen Davis
Creation Date
5-2025
Description
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a significant concept in forensic psychology due to the potential for individuals to malinger, exaggerate, or fabricate symptoms to avoid legal consequences. Previous research has utilized simulation designs where participants are given a description of DID to guide the malingering of self-reported symptoms, but this design may not accurately reflect how defendants utilize the information when exaggerating symptoms in legal settings. This study examined how individuals use various sources of information to malinger DID on forensic evaluation instruments. Participants were randomly assigned to respond honestly or malinger DID after reading diagnostic criteria or searching online for information. They then completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale and Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test to assess for malingering. Preliminary analyses tested the hypothesis that malingerers will score significantly higher on instruments compared to honest responders, with those searching online showing more exaggerated symptoms than those reading diagnostic criteria.
Keywords
Forensic Psychology, Dissociative Identity Disorder, DID, malingering