The Relationship Between Psychopathy and Performance on a Modified Version of the Iowa Gambling Task in Offender and Undergraduate Student Samples
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The relationship between psychopathy and performance on a modified version of the Iowa Gambling Task in offender and undergraduate student samples by Ian Broom A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario ©2011, Ian Broom UMI Number: NR87738 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI NR87738 Published by ProQuest LLC 2012. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ii PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT Abstract Given the behavioural similarities between individuals with prefrontal cortex damage and psychopaths, it has been suggested that psychopathy is associated with deficient frontal lobe function (Bechara, 1994; Mitchell, Colledge, Leonard, & Blair, 2002). Previous research regarding the relationship between Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) performance, thought to index prefrontal cortex processing, and psychopathy is mixed, with some studies demonstrating deficient performance on the IGT by psychopathic groups (Blair, Colledge, & Mitchell, 2001; Mahmut, Homewood, & Stevenson, 2008; Mitchell et al., 2002; Morgan, Gray, & Snowden, 2011; van Honk et al., 2002), and others failing to find this relationship (Blair & Cipolotti, 2000; Losel & Schmucker, 2004; Schmitt, Brinkley, & Newman, 1999). The current study examined the relationship between psychopathy and performance on a modified version of the IGT in a sample of 76 undergraduate students (Study 1) and a sample of 72 incarcerated offenders (Study 2). The modified version of the IGT included a shift in deck contingencies half way through the task. Undergraduate students were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995); offenders were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 2006). Heart Rate (HR) and Skin Conductance Response (SCR) were measured indexing physiological responses when making deck selections (anticipatory responses) and to selection outcomes (appraisal responses). Task performance was measured in terms of the overall number of advantageous (lower short-term gain, long-term gain) versus disadvantageous selections (higher short-term gain, long-term loss). In undergraduate students, psychopathy was not found to predict poor performance in the modified IGT. Anticipatory and appraisal SCR and HR physiological responses did not vary as a function of psychopathy in undergraduate students. Psychopathy was found to have an effect on task performance in offenders. Significant iii PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT correlations were found been PCL-R Facet scores and HR and SCR responses to deck selections. Differences in findings between Study 1 and Study 2 may suggest a fundamental difference in the impact of psychopathic traits on decision-making between offender and undergraduate samples. iv PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT Acknowledgements First and foremost I offer my sincerest gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Forth, who has unfailingly supported me throughout my doctoral degree with her patience and knowledge while allowing me to work in my own way. I could not have hoped for a better advisor and without her this dissertation would not have been completed or written. I would also like to thank the members of my committee, Dr. Pozzulo, Dr. Nunes, Dr. Singh, and Dr. Newman. I am particularly grateful for insightful comments provided by Dr. Newman and Dr. Pozzulo on an earlier draft of my dissertation. Collection of offender data was made possible by the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services by approving this study and granting access to facilities and needed space for equipment and interviews. I would specifically like to acknowledge the assistance of: Dr. Greg Brown, Dr. Jim Cheston, Scott Mason, Brian Patterson, and Dr. Larry Gauzas. I am deeply grateful to my family, particularly my wife Kristina. Without her love and support this could not have been completed. I am also grateful to my children Benjamin and Amelia for their support of my becoming a "scientist". I extend sincerest gratitude to my mother Anne, for her tireless support and encouragement. V PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT In the process of collecting data for this dissertation I extend my thanks to research assistants and volunteers: Laura Orton, Courtney Humeny, Monika Taing, Carlene Stuart, and Courtney Schlattman. Thanks also are extended to my employers over the years for providing needed time off of work to prepare the dissertation including Daryl Churney, Dr. Fenton Ho, Dr. Kelly Taylor, and Dr. Rick Ruddell. I dedicate this dissertation to my father, George William Broom. vi PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT Table of Contents Abstract ii Acknowledgements iv List of Tables viii List of Figures xi List of Appendices xii Introduction 1 Conceptualization of the Psychopathy Construct 2 History 2 Assessment of Psychopathy 4 Structure of the PCL-R 5 Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version 10 Psychopathy as a Taxon or Dimensional Construct 15 Self-Report Measures of Psychopathy 18 Primary and Secondary Psychopathy 20 Psychopathy and Frontal Lobe Function 22 Working Memory, Attention, and Set-Shifting 22 Orbitofrontal / Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex 25 Avoidance Learning / Fear Conditioning 27 Response Inhibition 33 Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory 35 Response Modulation 38 Reversal Learning 39 Somatic Marker Hypothesis 41 Iowa Gambling Task 42 Variables Affecting IGT Performance 44 Modified Versions of the IGT 47 SMH and Psychopathy 49 Current studies 56 Study 1 57 Hypotheses 57 Method 58 vii PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT Participants 58 Task 59 Psychophysiological Recording and Quantification 60 Measures 61 Procedure 65 Results 66 Descriptive Statistics 66 Performance on the MIGT 68 Physiological Responses 81 Summary 90 Study 2 91 Hypotheses 91 Method 92 Participants 92 Task 93 Physiological Recording and Quantification 93 Measures 93 Procedure 94 Results 96 Descriptive Statistics 96 Performance on the MIGT 99 Physiological Responses 115 Summary 121 Discussion 122 References 132 Appendices 162 Vlll PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT List of Tables Table 1 PCL-R Items, Organized According to Two, Three, and Four Facet Models 9 Table 2 Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version Items Organized According to Two, Three, and Four Factor Models 14 Table 3 Means (M) and Standard Deviations (SD) for Measures (PCL:SV, MAST, DAST, WAS) for Female and Male Undergraduates 67 Table 4 Means (M) and Standard Deviations (SD) for MIGT Netscores by Block and Sex in Undergraduates 69 Table 5 Bivariate Correlations Between MIGT Task performance, WAS, MAST, and DAST scores for Undergraduates 71 Table 6 Bivariate Correlations Between PCL:SV Total and Facet Scores for Undergraduates Overall and by Sex 73 Table 7 Model Summary for GLM with Psychopathy, Anxiety, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Gender, and Trend Effect Across MIGT Blocks (1-6) 78 Table 8 Model Summary for GLM with Psychopathy, Anxiety, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Sex, and Trend Effect Across MIGT Blocks (3/6) 80 Table 9 Physiological Responses in Anticipation of, and Following Deck (Advantageous / Disadvantageous) Selection for Undergraduates and by Sex 82 Table 10 Bivariate Correlations Between PCL:SV Total and Facet Scores with Physiological Responses Prior to, and Following Selections From Advantageous and Disadvantageous Decks Across Total Sample 84 ix PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT Table 11 Bivariate Correlations Between WAS, DAST, and MAST scores with Physiological Responses Prior to, and Following Selections From Advantageous and Disadvantageous Decks 86 Table 12 Bivariate Correlations Between PCL:SV Total and Facet Scores with Physiological Responses Prior to, and Following Selections From Advantageous and Disadvantageous Decks for Female Undergraduates 88 Table 13 Bivariate Correlations Between PCL:SV Total and Facet Scores with Physiological Responses Prior to, and Following Selections From Advantageous and Disadvantageous Decks for Male Undergraduates 89 Table 14 Means (M) and Standard Deviations (SD) for Psychopathy and Self-Report Scales for Offenders 98 Table 15 Means (M) and Standard Deviations (SD) for MIGT Netscores by Block and Psychopathy in Offenders 101 Table 16 Bivariate Correlations Between PCL-R Total and Facet Scores for Offenders 103 Table 17 Bivariate Correlations Between MIGT Task performance, WAS, MAST, and DAST scores for Undergraduates 105 Table 18 Model Summary for Repeated Measures ANCOVA with Psychopathy, Anxiety, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Age, and Trend Effect Across MIGT Blocks (1-6)...107 Table 19 Model Summary for Repeated Measures ANCOVA with Psychopathy, Anxiety, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Age, and Trend Effect Across MIGT Block 3 and Block 6 110 PSYCHOPATHY AND MODIFIED IGT Table 20 Model Summary for Repeated Measures GLM with Psychopathy, Anxiety, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Age, and Trend Effect Across MIGT Blocks (1-6) 112 Table 21 Model Summary for Repeated Measures GLM with Psychopathy, Anxiety, Drug and Alcohol Abuse,