The relationship between psychopathic traits and inhibitory control

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the relationship between psychopathic traits and motor inhibitory control using a go/no-go task GNG. The study used the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure to assess psychopathic traits, which consists of three scales: boldness meanness and disinhibition. A total of 78 participants were recruited, 25 males and 53 females aged 18 to 55. Results showed that out of the 3 scales measuring psychopathic traits disinhibition was found to be the most significantly associated with decreased inhibitory control. also it was found that participants produced significantly more false alarms for 400ms Go stimuli compared to 700ms and 1000ms go stimuli. There was a further significant main effect of stimulus duration on reaction times. Therefore this means that The findings obtained do prove the hypothesis that reduced inhibitory control is associated with specific aspects of psychopathic traits. Thus these findings could be used to explain The impulsive, hostile and aggressive aspects of psychopathy. The study recommends that future research should include larger sample sizes and suggests using different measures of psychopathy and other behavioural tasks to explore further associations between psychopathic traits and inhibitory control.