Impaired decision-making on the basis of both reward and punishment information in individuals with psychopathy

K. S. Blair; J. Morton; A. Leonard; R. J.R. Blair

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.031

Impaired decision-making on the basis of both reward and punishment information in individuals with psychopathy

K. S. Blair, J. Morton, A. Leonard, R. J.R. Blair

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

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, we examined decision-making to rewarding or punishing stimuli in individuals with psychopathy (n = 21) and comparison individuals (n = 19) using the Differential Reward/Punishment Learning Task. In this task, the participant chooses between two objects associated with different levels of reward or punishment. Thus, response choice indexes not only reward/punishment sensitivity but also sensitivity to reward/punishment level according to inter-stimulus reinforcement distance. Individuals with psychopathy showed significant impairment when choosing between objects associated with differential levels of reward but also significantly greater impairment when choosing between objects associated with differential levels of punishment. However, the two groups were comparably affected by inter-stimulus reinforcement distance. The results are discussed with reference to current models of psychopathy.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	155-165
Number of pages	11
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	41
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.031
State	Published - Jul 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Decision-making
Psychopathy
Punishment
Reward

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Psychology

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10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.031

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title = "Impaired decision-making on the basis of both reward and punishment information in individuals with psychopathy",

abstract = "In this study, we examined decision-making to rewarding or punishing stimuli in individuals with psychopathy (n = 21) and comparison individuals (n = 19) using the Differential Reward/Punishment Learning Task. In this task, the participant chooses between two objects associated with different levels of reward or punishment. Thus, response choice indexes not only reward/punishment sensitivity but also sensitivity to reward/punishment level according to inter-stimulus reinforcement distance. Individuals with psychopathy showed significant impairment when choosing between objects associated with differential levels of reward but also significantly greater impairment when choosing between objects associated with differential levels of punishment. However, the two groups were comparably affected by inter-stimulus reinforcement distance. The results are discussed with reference to current models of psychopathy.",

keywords = "Decision-making, Psychopathy, Punishment, Reward",

author = "Blair, {K. S.} and J. Morton and A. Leonard and Blair, {R. J.R.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the Psychology Department and Staff at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health: National Institute of Mental Health.",

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AU - Morton, J.

AU - Leonard, A.

AU - Blair, R. J.R.

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N2 - In this study, we examined decision-making to rewarding or punishing stimuli in individuals with psychopathy (n = 21) and comparison individuals (n = 19) using the Differential Reward/Punishment Learning Task. In this task, the participant chooses between two objects associated with different levels of reward or punishment. Thus, response choice indexes not only reward/punishment sensitivity but also sensitivity to reward/punishment level according to inter-stimulus reinforcement distance. Individuals with psychopathy showed significant impairment when choosing between objects associated with differential levels of reward but also significantly greater impairment when choosing between objects associated with differential levels of punishment. However, the two groups were comparably affected by inter-stimulus reinforcement distance. The results are discussed with reference to current models of psychopathy.

AB - In this study, we examined decision-making to rewarding or punishing stimuli in individuals with psychopathy (n = 21) and comparison individuals (n = 19) using the Differential Reward/Punishment Learning Task. In this task, the participant chooses between two objects associated with different levels of reward or punishment. Thus, response choice indexes not only reward/punishment sensitivity but also sensitivity to reward/punishment level according to inter-stimulus reinforcement distance. Individuals with psychopathy showed significant impairment when choosing between objects associated with differential levels of reward but also significantly greater impairment when choosing between objects associated with differential levels of punishment. However, the two groups were comparably affected by inter-stimulus reinforcement distance. The results are discussed with reference to current models of psychopathy.

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Impaired decision-making on the basis of both reward and punishment information in individuals with psychopathy

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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