based on verbal, logical, or sequential operations. Similarly, language would exert little control over their behaviour. This line of thinking is intriguing not only because it has produced substantial findings, but because it relates to numerous clinical descriptions of the psychopath as a person whose eloquent verbal discourses in no way correspond to that person’s behaviour.Research has implicated a genetic factor in the determination of psychopathy. Psychopaths, when compared to nonpsychopaths, show differences in electrodermal response. They have lower baseline levels, no reaction in anticipation of negative events (except when rewarded for doing so), and slow recovery to baseline levels after a response. Their cardiovascular response and adrenalin and noradrenalin levels in anticipation of negative events are also different from those of nonpsychopaths. The psychopaths’ tolerance of glucose has been shown to differ from that of nonpsychopathic offenders and from nonoffender control subjects. Recent neuropsychological studies suggest that the hemispheres of the psychopaths’ brains are less specialized than those of nonpsychopaths.Trasler (1978) has proposed a theory to account for psychopathy. He presumes initially that the prime characteristic of the psychopath is an “insusceptibility to social influences.” The psychopath simply doesn’t learn from negative experiences or punishment. Trasler suggests that law-abiding behaviour is learned principally by a procedure that is called passive avoidance learning—that is, learning not to make a response which would elicit punishment. Even though one may be tempted to make such a response (for example, to steal a handsome shirt), one inhibits the response after realizing the negative consequences (being arrested) which would ensue. The emotional reactions (fear, shame, and anxiety) accompanying the thoughts of the negative consequences are relieved when the response is inhibited so that one doesn’t steal the shirt. Thus, the behaviour of not stealing is positively reinforced by the reduction of the feelings of fear, shame, and anxiety. This kind of learning is controlled by specific structures and pathways in the brain. Trasler theorizes that psychopaths are poor passive avoidance learners: they fail to learn not to commit illegal acts because they feel no or little fear. Trasler interprets the findings that the electrodermal and cardiovascular systems of psychopaths react abnormally in anticipation of a noxious stimulus as suggesting that they do not emotionally anticipate negative consequences.
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