Abstract
It has been suggested that psychopaths exhibit specific deficits in cognitive processes associated with frontal lobe functioning. There is also evidence which indicates that level of intelligence may influence expression of impulse control among psychopaths. The present study investigated these hypotheses by comparing groups of 44 psychopaths and 14 normal controls selected from a sample of incarcerated male felons using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-defined criteria. Dependent variables included several measures of cognitive flexibility, perseveration, and impulsiveness. Compared to normal controls, psychopaths showed no greater tendencies to persist in incorrect responding, disregard cues suggesting the need to modify behaviors, or proceed impulsively in problem solving. Level of intelligence was found to be a moderator variable influencing performance for psychopaths and normal controls. Results suggest that deficits in cognitive functioning are not necessarily characteristic of psychopaths across situations.
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Appreciation is expressed to Kenneth C. Goist for his statistical consultation and to Danny R. Nicosia for typing the manuscript.
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Sutker, P.B., Moan, C.E. & Allain, A.N. Assessment of cognitive control in psychopathic and normal prisoners. Journal of Behavioral Assessment 5, 275–287 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321449
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321449