We thank Michael Pecchio for assistance with data collection and Scott Lilienfeld and Teng Ma for helpful comments on this paper.
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Research Article
No skin off my back: retribution deficits in psychopathic motives for punishment†
Article first published online: 28 NOV 2007
DOI: 10.1002/bsl.790
Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Issue
1099-0798/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=27cb3cb3b3e789b2519ed5b84bdb198bf5ddfb33 "Behavioral Sciences & the Law")
Behavioral Sciences & the Law
Special Issue: Current Directions
Volume 25, Issue 6, pages 869–889, November/December 2007
Additional Information
How to Cite
Aharoni, E., Weintraub, L. L. and Fridlund, A. J. (2007), No skin off my back: retribution deficits in psychopathic motives for punishment. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 25: 869–889. doi: 10.1002/bsl.790
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 28 NOV 2007
- Article first published online: 28 NOV 2007
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
When deciding a criminal's punishment, people typically exhibit both retributive and consequentialist motives in their decision making, though retribution's role may be stronger. This study aimed to discern possible functions of retribution by examining a population predicted to be deficient in retributive drive. Participants who rated either high or low in psychopathic traits read stories about a homicide. These stories were designed to evoke both retribution and the consequentialist motive of behavior control by varying, respectively, criminal intent and likelihood of recidivism. The participants then recommended a length of confinement for the offender. Individuals high in psychopathic traits were uniquely insensitive to retributive cues, and they were particularly consequentialist in their punishment of criminal offenders. These results clarify aspects of psychopathic aggression and corroborate the hypothesis that retribution may stabilize cooperative behavior. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.