Detection threshold for electric shock in psychopaths.

A 4-interval forced-choice procedure was used to determine the detection threshold for electric shock in psychopathic and nonpsychopathic criminals. The use of a constant-current stimulator, a concentric electrode, and monitoring of the skin-electrode impedance permitted precise control over the characteristics of shock administered. The results indicated that the psychopathic Ss had a significantly higher detection threshold than did the nonpsychopathic Ss. Several interpretations of these findings were offered, along with some comments on their implication for fear-conditioning and avoidancelearning studies with psychopaths.