The role of the orbitofrontal cortex in affective theory of mind deficits in criminal offenders with psychopathic tendencies
Abstract
Individuals with psychopathy show impaired emotional and social behavior, such as lack of emotional responsiveness to others and deficient empathy. However, there are controversies regarding these individuals theory of mind (ToM) abilities and the neuroanatomical basis of their aberrant social behavior. The present study tested the hypothesis that impairment in the emotional aspects of ToM (affective ToM) rather than general ToM abilities may account for the impaired social behavior observed in psychopathy and that this pattern of performance may be associated with orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) dysfunction. To assess the emotional and cognitive aspects of ToM we used a task that examines affective versus cognitive ToM processing in separate conditions. ToM abilities of criminal offender diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder with high psychopathy features were compared to that of participants with localized lesions in the OFC or dorsolateral, participants with non-frontal lesions, and healthy control subjects. Individuals with psychopathy and those with OFC lesions were impaired on the 'affective ToM' conditions but not in cognitive ToM conditions, compared to the control groups. It was concluded that the pattern of mentalizing impairments in psychopathy resembles remarkably that seen in participants with lesions of the frontal lobe, particularly with OFC damage, providing support for the notion of amygdala-OFC dysfunction in psychopathy.
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Impairment in affect-related cognitive empathy was found in institutionalized offenders with psychopathic tendencies.
“In addition to deficits in affective empathy, impairment in affect-related cognitive empathy–defined as the inability to know (rather than feel) the emotions of another—were also found in institutionalized offenders with psychopathic tendencies (35).”
From Empathy at the heart of darkness: empathy deficits that bind the dark triad and those that mediate indirect relational aggression. (2019) · cites this paper as [35]
Both of Renier's et al. cognitive empathy scales, online simulation and perspective taking, are defined by the capacity to make attributions about affect-akin to affect-related cognitive empathy.
“both of Renier's et al (40) cognitive empathy scales, online simulation and perspective taking, are defined by the capacity to make attributions about affect–akin to affect-related cognitive empathy (35)”
From Empathy at the heart of darkness: empathy deficits that bind the dark triad and those that mediate indirect relational aggression. (2019) · cites this paper as [35]
Similar affect-related cognition deficits as found in the current study have been previously reported in criminal male offenders with psychopathic tendencies.
“similar affect-related cognition deficits as found in the current study have been previously reported in criminal male offenders with psychopathic tendencies (35)”
From Empathy at the heart of darkness: empathy deficits that bind the dark triad and those that mediate indirect relational aggression. (2019) · cites this paper as [35]
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- Authors
- Shamay-Tsoory, S. G., Harari, H., Aharon-Peretz, J., & Levkovitz, Y.
- Affiliations
- Shalvata Mental Health Center (IL)
- Venue
- Cortex
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-05
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 668-677
- ISSN
- 0010-9452 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2030904969
- Cited by
- 432
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 13.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cortex (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Deception detection and forensic psychology
- Keywords
- orbitofrontal cortex, affective theory of mind, theory of mind, psychopathy, antisocial personality disorder, offenders, affective empathy, social behavior, frontal lobe lesions, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Brain Diseases, Cognition, Emotions, Empathy, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Neuropsychological Tests, Young Adult, Theory of Mind, Criminals
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