Autonomic responsivity during passive avoidance in incarcerated psychopaths

Peter A. Arnett; Eric W. Howland; Stevens S. Smith; Joseph P. Newman

doi:10.1016/0191-8869(93)90187-8

Autonomic responsivity during passive avoidance in incarcerated psychopaths

Peter A. Arnett, Eric W. Howland, Stevens S. Smith, Joseph P. Newman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

Autonomic response to rewards and punishments was assessed in incarcerated psychopaths and nonpsychopaths during passive avoidance learning. Based on behavioral evidence that psychopaths are less likely to suspend approach behavior following punishment and that approach behavior is associated with increased heart rate (HR), we hypothesized that, in comparison to HR following reward, psychopaths would display greater HR following punishment than nonpsychopaths. A significant Psychopathy × Feedback interaction (P < 0.05) revealed that psychopaths displayed lower HR following punishment feedback than controls (P < 0.10) but group differences in HR were moderated by level of anxiety and seconds following feedback. A marginally significant Psychopathy × Feedback interaction for skin conductance responses (SCRs) revealed that psychopaths exhibited fewer SCRs following punishment than controls. There were no group differences in passive avoidance learning. That psychopaths displayed lower HR and fewer SCRs than controls following punishment is inconsistent with our hypothesis and indicates that psychopaths were relatively unresponsive to punishment feedback in this study. Alternative explanations for this finding are discussed within the context of psychopaths' difficulty learning from punishment.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	173-184
Number of pages	12
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	14
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(93)90187-8
State	Published - Jan 1993

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General Psychology

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10.1016/0191-8869(93)90187-8

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title = "Autonomic responsivity during passive avoidance in incarcerated psychopaths",

abstract = "Autonomic response to rewards and punishments was assessed in incarcerated psychopaths and nonpsychopaths during passive avoidance learning. Based on behavioral evidence that psychopaths are less likely to suspend approach behavior following punishment and that approach behavior is associated with increased heart rate (HR), we hypothesized that, in comparison to HR following reward, psychopaths would display greater HR following punishment than nonpsychopaths. A significant Psychopathy × Feedback interaction (P < 0.05) revealed that psychopaths displayed lower HR following punishment feedback than controls (P < 0.10) but group differences in HR were moderated by level of anxiety and seconds following feedback. A marginally significant Psychopathy × Feedback interaction for skin conductance responses (SCRs) revealed that psychopaths exhibited fewer SCRs following punishment than controls. There were no group differences in passive avoidance learning. That psychopaths displayed lower HR and fewer SCRs than controls following punishment is inconsistent with our hypothesis and indicates that psychopaths were relatively unresponsive to punishment feedback in this study. Alternative explanations for this finding are discussed within the context of psychopaths' difficulty learning from punishment.",

author = "Arnett, {Peter A.} and Howland, {Eric W.} and Smith, {Stevens S.} and Newman, {Joseph P.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements~This research was supported by National Institute for Mental Health Grant MH37711 to Joseph P. Newman. We wish to thank the late Arnold Blahnik, Jeff Wydeven, Deb March, and the staff of the Oakhill Correctional Institution, and the Wisconsin Division of Corrections for their consistent cooperation and support of this research project.",

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doi = "10.1016/0191-8869(93)90187-8",

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AU - Howland, Eric W.

AU - Smith, Stevens S.

AU - Newman, Joseph P.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements~This research was supported by National Institute for Mental Health Grant MH37711 to Joseph P. Newman. We wish to thank the late Arnold Blahnik, Jeff Wydeven, Deb March, and the staff of the Oakhill Correctional Institution, and the Wisconsin Division of Corrections for their consistent cooperation and support of this research project.

PY - 1993/1

Y1 - 1993/1

N2 - Autonomic response to rewards and punishments was assessed in incarcerated psychopaths and nonpsychopaths during passive avoidance learning. Based on behavioral evidence that psychopaths are less likely to suspend approach behavior following punishment and that approach behavior is associated with increased heart rate (HR), we hypothesized that, in comparison to HR following reward, psychopaths would display greater HR following punishment than nonpsychopaths. A significant Psychopathy × Feedback interaction (P < 0.05) revealed that psychopaths displayed lower HR following punishment feedback than controls (P < 0.10) but group differences in HR were moderated by level of anxiety and seconds following feedback. A marginally significant Psychopathy × Feedback interaction for skin conductance responses (SCRs) revealed that psychopaths exhibited fewer SCRs following punishment than controls. There were no group differences in passive avoidance learning. That psychopaths displayed lower HR and fewer SCRs than controls following punishment is inconsistent with our hypothesis and indicates that psychopaths were relatively unresponsive to punishment feedback in this study. Alternative explanations for this finding are discussed within the context of psychopaths' difficulty learning from punishment.

AB - Autonomic response to rewards and punishments was assessed in incarcerated psychopaths and nonpsychopaths during passive avoidance learning. Based on behavioral evidence that psychopaths are less likely to suspend approach behavior following punishment and that approach behavior is associated with increased heart rate (HR), we hypothesized that, in comparison to HR following reward, psychopaths would display greater HR following punishment than nonpsychopaths. A significant Psychopathy × Feedback interaction (P < 0.05) revealed that psychopaths displayed lower HR following punishment feedback than controls (P < 0.10) but group differences in HR were moderated by level of anxiety and seconds following feedback. A marginally significant Psychopathy × Feedback interaction for skin conductance responses (SCRs) revealed that psychopaths exhibited fewer SCRs following punishment than controls. There were no group differences in passive avoidance learning. That psychopaths displayed lower HR and fewer SCRs than controls following punishment is inconsistent with our hypothesis and indicates that psychopaths were relatively unresponsive to punishment feedback in this study. Alternative explanations for this finding are discussed within the context of psychopaths' difficulty learning from punishment.

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Autonomic responsivity during passive avoidance in incarcerated psychopaths

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