Abstract
Aims: The present study examined whether people higher in psychopathy
experienced less self-reported and psychophysiological pain than people
lower in psychopathy. We also examined via self-reports and
psychophysiological measures whether psychopathy affects empathy for
others’ pain. Method: Three hundred and sixty-nine students (18-78
years; M = 26, SD = 9.34) were screened for psychopathic traits, and
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 measures,
participants responded to directly experienced pressure pain and
observing others’ pain images. Results: People higher in psychopathy
self-reported feeling less physical pain compared to people lower in
psychopathy, however, we did not find any differences in SCR to physical
pain. High psychopathy group displayed lower SCR to viewing other
people’s pain compared to low psychopathy. Additionally, high
psychopathy group self-reported less empathy to other people’s pain
compared to low psychopathy group. Discussion: Our results suggest that
psychopathic traits relate to problems with empathising with others’
pain as well as rating pain as feeling less intense. Additionally, a
lack of awareness to ones’ body sensations may underlie emotional
impairments in psychopathy. We suggest psychopathy interventions for
empathy should focus on recognising and empathising with pain.