"""
        if dtype == np.dtype(object):
            out = np.empty(len(self._data), dtype=object)
            for i in range(len(self._data)):
                out[i] = self._data[i]
            return out
        if dtype is None:
            return self._data
        else:
            return self._data.astype(dtype)

    def copy(self, deep: bool = False) -> "PandasArrayExtensionArray":
        return PandasArrayExtensionArray(self._data, copy=True)