Psychopaths chronic cheating and impulsive risky behaviors are linked to reasoning impairments

Psychopaths are impaired in social exchange and precautionary reasoning

 

From Pychological Science

Psychopaths persistently violate social, moral, and legal norms, cheating family, friends, and strangers alike. Two hallmarks of psychopathy are the persistent violation of social contracts and chronic, impulsive risky behavior. By testing incarcerated psychopaths this study considers if they understand what qualifies as such behavior. Results indicate that psychopaths despite displaying intact intellectual functioning, have specific reasoning impairments that may contribute to their chronic cheating and impulsive risky behaviors.