To read this content please select one of the options below:

Anger following provocation in individuals with psychopathic traits

Brian L. Steuerwald (Martin University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA)
Allison R. Brown (College of Health Professions, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Malek Mneimne (University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA)
David Kosson (College of Health Professions, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois, USA)

Journal of Criminal Psychology

ISSN: 2009-3829

Article publication date: 4 October 2017

Issue publication date: 19 October 2017

151

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the attenuated-anger and heightened-anger hypotheses of psychopathy by assessing the physiological, behavioral, and subjective measures of anger in individuals with and without psychopathic traits.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 62 male college students were assigned to one of three groups based on evidence of elevated affective-interpersonal (Factor 1) and antisocial lifestyle (Factor 2) traits associated with psychopathy (the IF1+F2 group), evidence of only Factor 2 traits (the F2 only group), or based on the absence of psychopathic traits (the control group), using Gough’s (1957) Socialization scale and a modified, interview only form of Hare’s (1991) Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. To induce anger, participants received unjust criticism about their performance on a computer-based affective lexical decision task and were denied a performance bonus they had reason to expect.

Findings

Following provocation, the three groups displayed similar increases in blood pressure, pulse, and self-reported anger. The control and IF1+F2 groups also displayed similar retaliation toward the confederate. However, the IF1+F2 group displayed smaller increases on two of three measures of facial muscle activity associated with anger.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to assess anger responsiveness in individuals with psychopathic traits using a powerful anger induction and using physiological, behavioral, and subjective indices of anger. It is also the first to assess both the attenuated-anger and the heightened-anger hypotheses of psychopathy. The findings appear largely inconsistent with both perspectives.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted by the first author in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the PhD at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This study was funded by a National Institute of Mental Health Grant No. MH49111 awarded to David S. Kosson. The authors wish to express appreciation to Jacquelyn W. White, P. Scott Lawrence, Robert Eason, and Jack Humphrey who provided valuable feedback during this study. Also, the authors would like to thank Susan Baird, Matt Kirkhart, and Michael de Arellano for their assistance on the project.

Citation

Steuerwald, B.L., Brown, A.R., Mneimne, M. and Kosson, D. (2017), "Anger following provocation in individuals with psychopathic traits", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 244-261. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-02-2017-0007

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles