A critique of behavioral inhibition scale (BIS) for investigating theory of primary psychopathy

Abstract

In a 1995 monograph, Lykken asserted that an innate fearless temperament underpins the development of primary psychopathy as described by Cleckley (1941). To embed this insight in a larger theory of behavior, Lykken embraced constructs from Gray's (1982) reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST). Specifically, he hypothesized that in primary psychopaths the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) lacks normal sensitivity to cues of conditioned punishment or non-reward. Subsequent researchers have embraced Carver and White's (1994) BIS scale as the instrument of choice for testing Lykken's theory of primary psychopathy, a practice that this review calls into question. We note (a) a dearth of research using the BIS scales in offender samples, where more psychopathic individuals are likely to be found and (b) limited BIS scale coverage of the functions attributed to the behavioral inhibition system in RST. In addition, (c) we review literature suggesting that rather than assessing the fear sensitivity function critical to Lykken's theory, the BIS scale instead functions primarily as an index of negative emotionality. We recommend a moratorium on the use of the BIS scale to test Lykken's theory of primary psychopathy. Psychopathy and Lykken's Theory of Psychopathic SubtypesPsychopathy is one of the most heavily researched personality disorder constructs (Hare, 1996). Modern conceptualizations of psychopathy date to Cleckley's (1941Cleckley's ( /1976) classic text, The Mask of Sanity, which "embodied … the idea that psychopathy entails the juxtaposition © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. of severe underlying pathology against the overt appearance of robust mental health" (Patrick, 2007, p. 113). Psychologically adaptive features of psychopathy that Cleckley identified include, among others, superficial charm and good intelligence, absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking, and absence of nervousness or "psychoneurotic" manifestations. Psychologically maladaptive features included indicators of both emotional-impersonal deficits (e.g., untruthfulness and insincerity; lack of remorse or shame) and behavioral deviance (e.g., poor judgment and failure to learn by experience; sex life impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated). NIH Public AccessEven as Cleckley was introducing this syndrome, Karpman (1941Karpman ( , 1948a expressed the need to distinguish the primary psychopath, whose disorder was assumed to arise from a constitutional deficit of unknown origin, from the secondary psychopath, whose psychopat...

Circadian preference and trait impulsivity, sensation-seeking and response inhibition in healthy young adults

“…Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct consisting of impulsive decision and a lack of inhibitory control (Evenden, 1999). Sensation-seeking, in contrast, refers to the tendency to seek out novel and highly stimulating experiences and the willingness to take risks to attain them (Zuckerman, 1972) which appears to be more related to behavioral approach systems (Poythress et al, 2008). The disinhibition subscale that is typically defined in terms of behavioral disinhibition or undercontrol may reflect a conceptual overlap between the two constructs.…”

Relation of Reinforcement Sensitivity on Vocational Interest and Self-Efficacy

“…Stress and high BIS activity have also been shown to be moderately related (r = .48; van der , and have even been linked to being more likely to interpret situations as stressful (Gable et al 2000). These findings are supported by increased likelihood of being diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder (Poythress et al, 2008), or anorexia nervosa (Claes et al, 2006;Harrison, et al, 2010). Gomez and Corr (2010) also found that individual with high sensitivity to punishment were more likely to endorse symptoms consistent with the inattentive subtype of ADHD, which has also been found to be a potent predictor of subjective negative mood states, psychopathologies, and generally low life satisfaction (e.g.…”

“…As outlined above, multiple studies have used RST to explain individual differences regarding psychopathologies (e.g., Poythress et al, 2008), developmental and learning disorders (Gomez & Corr, 2010), addictions (e.g., Kambouropoulos & Staiger, 2001;MacLaren et al, 2011), and even right or left handedness (e.g., Wright, Hardie, & Wilson, 2009). Increased understanding of brain structures and functions in recent years have helped to spur on these studies, as RST holds a unique position to link brain structures with various personality characteristics.…”

Friends and Enemies in Organizations

“…While much of the research into RST has focused on normal personality, there is also a body of literature describing the relationship between personality psychopathology and RST, including psychopathy (e.g., Levenson, Kiehl & Fitzpatrick, 1995;Ross et al, 2007). For example, a recent study found evidence that primary (but not secondary) psychopathy is positively related to the Behavioural Inhibition System, while both primary and secondary psychopathy have been shown to be related to the Behavioural Approach System in a sample of noninstitutionalized young adults (Ross et al, 2007; although see also : Poythress et al, 2008). Meanwhile, Newman et al (2005) found evidence that primary psychopathy is associated with a weak Behavioural Inhibition System and a normal Behavioural Approach System while secondary psychopathy is associated with a strong Behavioural Approach System.…”