Abstract
Introduction: Although many theories of psychopathy have identified an emotional deficit and a reduced capacity to experience guilt, little research has been done on the relationship between psychopathy and guilt. A key motivating emotion in the role of reparatory behaviour has been identified as guilt (De Hooge, Nelissen & Breugelmans 2011). The study of implicit and explicit guilt is very much in its infancy. Some theories of psychopathy have identified an attention dysfunction, whereby psychopaths engage goal orientated behaviour thus avoiding the experience of guilt as it would be deemed as counter-productive for a psychopaths’ success.
Aim: The present study sought to explore the relationship between subclinical psychopathy and the experience of implicit and explicit guilt through a method of guilt induction and attention manipulation.
Method: Participants completed an online survey which included a measure of psychopathy (Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale), guilt induction method, explicit measure of guilt and an implicit assessment of guilt. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three guilt induction conditions.
Results: The sample consisted of 383 participants who completed the full online survey. There was a significant difference found in low and medium psychopaths between the control condition and the guilt induction and guilt plus attention condition in the experience of explicit guilt. A significant difference was found between the three conditions and the experience of explicit guilt but was unrelated to all three levels of psychopathy.
Implications for future research: Further research is needed to investigate the relationship between explicit and implicit guilt. The use of experimentally inducing guilt in a psychopathy sample is in its infancy and would benefit from further exploration. The relationship between guilt and psychopathy can help clinicians with treatment planning and outcomes.