A cognitive developmental approach to mortality: investigating the psychopath.
Various social animal species have been noted to inhibit aggressive attacks when a conspecific displays submission cues. Blair (1993) has suggested that humans possess a functionally similar mechanism which mediates the suppression of aggression in the context of distress cues. He has suggested that this mechanism is a prerequisite for the development of the moral/conventional distinction; the consistently observed distinction in subject's judgments between moral and conventional transgressions. Psychopaths may lack this violence inhibitor. A causal model is developed showing how the lack of this mechanism would explain the core behavioural symptoms associated with the psychopathic disorder. A prediction of such a causal model would be that psychopaths should fail to make the moral/conventional distinction. This prediction was confirmed. The implication of this finding for other theories of morality is discussed.
Blair
R J
RJ
MRC Cognitive Development Unit, London, UK.
D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009014:Morals; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales