Factors differentiating successful versus unsuccessful malingerers. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Relatively little is known about the processes in which "successful" malingerers engage to avoid detection. This study summarizes the response strategies used by participants (N = 540) instructed to feign a specific mental disorder while completing various self-report instruments designed to detect faking. Postexperiment questionnaires indicated that those who were able to appear symptomatic while avoiding being detected as feigning (n = 60) were more likely to endorse a lower rate of legitimate symptoms, to avoid overly unusual or bizarre items, and to base their responses on their own personal experiences.

published proceedings

  • J Pers Assess

author list (cited authors)

  • Edens, J. F., Guy, L. S., Otto, R. K., Buffington, J. K., Tomicic, T. L., & Poythress, N. G.

citation count

  • 20

complete list of authors

  • Edens, JF||Guy, LS||Otto, RK||Buffington, JK||Tomicic, TL||Poythress, NG

publication date

  • October 2001