Citation

Demetrioff S, Porter S, Baker A. Psychol. Crime Law 2017; 23(3): 274-290.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1068316X.2016.1247159

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Few studies have examined the manner in which individuals view, interact with, and manipulate others, or their ability to identify and respond to others' emotional cues. More specifically, no research has examined the capacity of individuals high in psychopathic traits to perceive and recognize extremely fleeting emotional expressions (i.e. micro-expressions) that could allow them to infer emotional vulnerability in others. The current study examined whether psychopathic traits [measured via the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-4 (SRP-4); Paulhus, D. L., Neumann, C. S., & Hare, R. D. (2016). Manual for the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (4th ed.). Toronto: Multi-Health Systems] were associated with the ability to identify micro-expressions in others. Participants (N = 132) viewed videos of 1/25th second micro-expressions and attempted to identify the displayed emotion. The results indicated that SRP scores were positively associated with a heightened ability to identify sadness micro-expressions, particularly among observers who were women. Additionally, various SRP subscales were related to emotion selection tendencies and accuracy rates, which also differed between the sexes.

Language: en

Keywords

Psychopathy; emotional expression; emotional judgment; micro-expressions, subclinical psychopathy