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We investigated personality disorders (PDs) of young men with chronic authority conflicts using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-I (MCMI-I; Millon, 1983). PDs occurred considerably more often in the young men with chronic authority conflicts (62%) compared with a clinical control group of young men with acute authority conflicts (39%). The prevalence of PDs in a normal control group was considerably lower (11%). The passive-aggressive PD is over-represented among young men with chronic authority conflicts; there is hardly any antisocial PD. Milton's conceptualization of these disorders could have influenced these results. The high prevalence of passive-aggressive PDs complicates a good psychotherapeutic outcome in young men with chronic authority conflicts. Our results underscore the clinical utility of the controversial PAPD diagnosis.
Young men with authority conflicts are unsuccessful in dealing with functional authority figures or organizational rules. The clinical literature describes authority conflicts as passivity problems (Kuiper, 1984); the subject is unable to assume a passive or subordinate position with respect to a symbolic father figure (a teacher, a boss at work, etc.). As far as we can tell, no systematic empirical research into authority conflicts has been carried out. For this reason, Kaplan, Freedman, and Sadock (1980) speak of a field with a great deal of anecdotal information but one lacking in empirical support. Military service provides an exceptional opportunity to study young people with authority conflicts. These people generally do not expose themselves to authority situations, with the result that their problems remain latent and resistant to study. It is mainly youth workers, teachers, and employers who come into conflict with them (Coleman, 1980). Military service, however, is something that cannot be avoided and it is almost certain that they will experience adjustment problems in the hierarchical context of the military. In the Belgian military, the low threshold for psychiatric help means that they readily seek counseling so one can compose a representative group of young people with authority conflicts relatively easily. This sample, however, also contains people with authority problems who are simply a result of the exercise of authority in the military. They should be excluded because these young persons' authority conflicts are incidental in nature. In addition, data provided by military psychiatry must be checked extra carefully because psychological problems can...