Individual's personality profile is one of the major determinants of one's behavior. Thus, poor personality disposition of fathers and the child's perception of father have been reported to be powerful predictors of subsequent delinquency and criminal offences. The externalizers resemble the dimensions of conduct disorder as prescribed in diagnostic statistical manual IV. The essential feature is their repetitive behavioral pattern wherein the basic right of others or major age appropriate societal norms are violated.

This study finds out the relationship between the fathers’ personality-disposition, having male children with conduct disorder (CDC, n = 30, experimental group), dysthymic disorder (DDC, n = 30, control group), and normal (NC, n = 30, control group), by applying the new five factor inventory, and children's perception of their fathers on the parent–child relationship scale.

The children were matched on age, sex, socio-economic status and other relevant variables. The CD and DD were selected on the DSM-IV criteria for the diagnosis of conduct disorder and dysthymic disorder. The fathers of each group of children were administered the aforesaid questionnaires.

The CDF showed only significantly poor agreeableness compared to the NF. The CDC's perceived their fathers most negatively compared to the DDC and NC. The CDF's conscientiousness was significantly correlated to a number of variables of the children's perception of them as observed on the PCRS.

The CDF showed lower agreeableness than the NF. The CDC perceived their fathers most negatively, hence, setting the model for the child to observe and learn socially inappropriate behavior.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.