Psychopathic traits, inhibition, and positive and negative emotion: Results from an emotional Go/No‐Go task. (25th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fournier, Lauren F.; McDonald, Julia B.; Clayson, Peter E.; Verona, Edelyn
• Is Part Of: Psychophysiology. Volume 58:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-03-25
• Subjects: emotional Go/No‐Go -- emotions -- event‐related potentials -- inhibitory control -- psychopathy; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13815
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-5772

Abstract

Abstract: Difficulty stopping unwanted or inappropriate actions (i.e., inhibitory control) is implicated in antisocial behaviors, which are common in people high in psychopathic traits. Recent research indicates that, for those with antisocial personality, inhibitory control is impaired under negative emotional contexts; however, it is unclear whether this impairment extends to persons with psychopathic traits and to impairments under positive emotional contexts. Identifying some of these distinctions can point to therapeutics that target negative emotion specifically or emotion dysregulation broadly. We sought to identify unique relationships between distinct facets of psychopathy and inhibitory control in the context of positive, negative, and neutral stimuli. Using a community sample ( N = 117), event‐related potentials were recorded during an emotional‐linguistic Go/No‐Go task. Results indicated distinct cognition–emotion relationships for each psychopathy facet. Higher interpersonal facet scores related to reciprocal interference between cognition and emotion. Higher callous affect facet scores related to reduced inhibitory and emotional processing, except when stimuli were most engaging (emotional No‐Go trials). Higher erratic lifestyle facet scores related to increased effort required to process both emotion and inhibition cues. Finally, higher antisocial facet scores related to poorer behavioral inhibition overall. This research challenges the theoretical accounts of psychopathy focused on specific deficits in negative emotion, such as fearlessness, while offering some support for theories related to attentional dysfunction. Results also highlight the importance of facet‐level theorizing, as results varied by facet. This study may inform efforts to reduce disinhibited behaviors, particularly in emotional contexts, among those high in certain psychopathic traits. Abstract : This study clarifies whether previously found emotion‐related impairment of inhibitory control among individuals with antisocial traits is unique to negative emotion or is instead a broader effect of emotional arousal. This study offers insight into how cognition–emotion relationships function across facets of psychopathic traits. Results suggested that future theoretical and therapeutic work may benefit from focusing on emotion broadly, rather than negative emotion specifically, when studying or targeting inhibitory control in psychopathy.