Alshukri, Sophie, Lyons, Minna, Blinkhorn, Victoria, Muñoz, Luna and Fallon, Nicholas 
ORCID: 0000-0003-1451-6983
(2024)
Psychopathy, pain, and pain empathy: A psychophysiological study.
PloS one, 19 (7).
e0306461-e0306461.
ISSN 1932-6203, 1932-6203
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Psychopathy, pain, and pain empathy A psychophysiological study.pdf - Open Access published version Download (531kB) | Preview |
Abstract
The present study examined whether people higher in psychopathy experienced less self-reported and psychophysiological nociceptive pressure than people lower in psychopathy. We also examined whether psychopathy affects empathy for others' pain via self-reported and psychophysiological measures. Three hundred and sixty-nine students (18-78 years; M = 26, SD = 9.34) were screened for psychopathic traits using the Youth Psychopathy Inventory (YPI). Stratified sampling was used to recruit 49 adults residing in the highest (n = 23) and lowest (n = 26) 20% of the psychopathy spectrum. Using skin conductance response (SCR) and self-report responses, participants responded to individually adjusted intensities of pneumatic pressure and others' pain images and completed self-reported psychopathy and empathy measures (Triarchic Psychopathy Measure, TriPm; Interpersonal Reactivity Index, IRI). People higher in psychopathy self-reported feeling less nociceptive pressure compared to people lower in psychopathy, yet we did not find any differences in SCR to nociceptive pressure. However, when viewing other people in pain, the high psychopathy group displayed lower SCR and lower self-reported empathy compared to those lower in psychopathy. Our results suggest psychopathic traits relate to problems empathising with others' pain, as well as the perception of nociceptive pressure. We also show support for the theory of dual harm which has been receiving increasing attention. Consequently, psychopathy interventions should focus both on recognising and empathising with the pain of others.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Humans, Pain, Psychophysiology, Empathy, Galvanic Skin Response, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Young Adult, Self Report |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Nov 2024 09:55 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Dec 2024 03:09 |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0306461 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3188749 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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