Loading…

Physiological reactivity in response to a fear‐induced virtual reality experience: Associations with psychopathic traits

Despite the longstanding discussion around the link between psychopathy and fearlessness, few studies have explicitly tested this association, and results have been mixed. This may be due, in part, to the lack of specificity in fear assessment. Further, the relation between psychopathy and fear may...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychophysiology 2019-01, Vol.56 (1), p.e13276-n/a
Main Authors: Thomson, Nicholas D., Aboutanos, Michel, Kiehl, Kent A., Neumann, Craig, Galusha, Carla, Fanti, Kostas A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
cited_by cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c3576-948823e776c26f9a154f2aaa7bba5bf45d060e18e81377a19b6a00c6f13c2dee3
cites cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c3576-948823e776c26f9a154f2aaa7bba5bf45d060e18e81377a19b6a00c6f13c2dee3
container_end_page n/a
container_issue 1
container_start_page e13276
container_title Psychophysiology
container_volume 56
creator Thomson, Nicholas D.
Aboutanos, Michel
Kiehl, Kent A.
Neumann, Craig
Galusha, Carla
Fanti, Kostas A.
description Despite the longstanding discussion around the link between psychopathy and fearlessness, few studies have explicitly tested this association, and results have been mixed. This may be due, in part, to the lack of specificity in fear assessment. Further, the relation between psychopathy and fear may be better understood using the two‐factor model because, in theory, fear has opposing associations with interpersonal‐affective (Factor 1) and impulsive‐antisocial (Factor 2) traits. The present study aimed to test if the two factors of psychopathy are deferentially related to fear reactivity. To examine this, we collected sympathetic (SNS; skin conductance) and parasympathetic (PNS; respiratory sinus arrhythmia) nervous system reactivity to an interactive virtual reality horror video in a nonclinical sample (N = 103). Also, we included measures of emotional reactivity to fear and self‐report of situational fear. Results indicated that coinhibition (i.e., low PNS and SNS) of the two physiological systems predicted Factor 1, suggesting that individuals high on Factor 1 showed little change in both branches of the autonomic nervous system in response to fear. In contrast, Factor 2 was predicted by high PNS reactivity, suggesting a vulnerability to emotion dysregulation. On emotional reactivity, Factor 1 was related to feeling happier after the fear condition, whereas Factor 2 was related to feeling less in control. Factor 1 was inversely associated with situational fear, specifically, lower scores of social phobias, fear of aggression, and physical injury. In summary, the results provide evidence that psychopathy is related to fearlessness; however, this is unique to the personality features of psychopathy.
doi_str_mv 10.1111/psyp.13276
format article
fullrecord <record><control><sourceid>proquest_cross</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_2091234265</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><sourcerecordid>2157302712</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-c3576-948823e776c26f9a154f2aaa7bba5bf45d060e18e81377a19b6a00c6f13c2dee3</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNp90c2K1TAUB_AginO9uvEBJOBmEDrmo01ad8PgFwx4QV24CqfpqTdDb1OTdMa68hF8Rp_EXDu6cGE2IfA7fw75E_KYszOez_MpLtMZl0KrO2TDS9UUdVOru2TDWFkXldbihDyI8Yox1nAh7pMTybholOYb8m23X6Lzg__sLAw0INjkrl1aqBvzK05-jEiTp0B7hPDz-w83drPFjl67kOZ1ZDh6_DphcDhafEHPY_TWQXJ5mt64tKd5R7v3E6S9szQFcCk-JPd6GCI-ur235OOrlx8u3hSX716_vTi_LKystCqasq6FRK2VFapvgFdlLwBAty1UbV9WHVMMeY01l1oDb1oFjFnVc2lFhyi35HTNnYL_MmNM5uCixWGAEf0cjTj-iiyFqjJ9-g-98nMY83ZG8EpLJnSmW_JsVTb4GAP2ZgruAGExnJljI-bYiPndSMZPbiPn9oDdX_qnggz4Cm7cgMt_oszu_afdGvoLl9KZ3Q</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Aggregation Database</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>2157302712</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Physiological reactivity in response to a fear‐induced virtual reality experience: Associations with psychopathic traits</title><source>Wiley</source><source>EBSCOhost SPORTDiscus - Ebooks</source><creator>Thomson, Nicholas D. ; Aboutanos, Michel ; Kiehl, Kent A. ; Neumann, Craig ; Galusha, Carla ; Fanti, Kostas A.</creator><creatorcontrib>Thomson, Nicholas D. ; Aboutanos, Michel ; Kiehl, Kent A. ; Neumann, Craig ; Galusha, Carla ; Fanti, Kostas A.</creatorcontrib><description>Despite the longstanding discussion around the link between psychopathy and fearlessness, few studies have explicitly tested this association, and results have been mixed. This may be due, in part, to the lack of specificity in fear assessment. Further, the relation between psychopathy and fear may be better understood using the two‐factor model because, in theory, fear has opposing associations with interpersonal‐affective (Factor 1) and impulsive‐antisocial (Factor 2) traits. The present study aimed to test if the two factors of psychopathy are deferentially related to fear reactivity. To examine this, we collected sympathetic (SNS; skin conductance) and parasympathetic (PNS; respiratory sinus arrhythmia) nervous system reactivity to an interactive virtual reality horror video in a nonclinical sample (N = 103). Also, we included measures of emotional reactivity to fear and self‐report of situational fear. Results indicated that coinhibition (i.e., low PNS and SNS) of the two physiological systems predicted Factor 1, suggesting that individuals high on Factor 1 showed little change in both branches of the autonomic nervous system in response to fear. In contrast, Factor 2 was predicted by high PNS reactivity, suggesting a vulnerability to emotion dysregulation. On emotional reactivity, Factor 1 was related to feeling happier after the fear condition, whereas Factor 2 was related to feeling less in control. Factor 1 was inversely associated with situational fear, specifically, lower scores of social phobias, fear of aggression, and physical injury. In summary, the results provide evidence that psychopathy is related to fearlessness; however, this is unique to the personality features of psychopathy.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0048-5772</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1469-8986</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1540-5958</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13276</identifier><identifier>PMID: 30129671</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>United States: Blackwell Publishing Ltd</publisher><subject>Adolescent ; Antisocial personality disorder ; Antisocial Personality Disorder - physiopathology ; Arrhythmia ; autonomic ; Autonomic nervous system ; Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology ; Computer applications ; Conductance ; Emotions ; Emotions - physiology ; Fear &amp; phobias ; Fear - physiology ; fearlessness ; Female ; Galvanic Skin Response - physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Nervous system ; Parasympathetic nervous system ; Personality ; Physiology ; psychopathy ; respiratory sinus arrhythmia ; Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia - physiology ; skin conductance ; Social behavior ; Virtual Reality ; Young Adult</subject><ispartof>Psychophysiology, 2019-01, Vol.56 (1), p.e13276-n/a</ispartof><rights>2018 Society for Psychophysiological Research</rights><rights>2018 Society for Psychophysiological Research.</rights><rights>Copyright © 2019 by the Society for Psychophysiological Research</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c3576-948823e776c26f9a154f2aaa7bba5bf45d060e18e81377a19b6a00c6f13c2dee3</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c3576-948823e776c26f9a154f2aaa7bba5bf45d060e18e81377a19b6a00c6f13c2dee3</cites><orcidid>0000-0001-5127-8174</orcidid></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><link.rule.ids>314,780,784,27923,27924</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30129671$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Thomson, Nicholas D.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Aboutanos, Michel</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kiehl, Kent A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Neumann, Craig</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Galusha, Carla</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Fanti, Kostas A.</creatorcontrib><title>Physiological reactivity in response to a fear‐induced virtual reality experience: Associations with psychopathic traits</title><title>Psychophysiology</title><addtitle>Psychophysiology</addtitle><description>Despite the longstanding discussion around the link between psychopathy and fearlessness, few studies have explicitly tested this association, and results have been mixed. This may be due, in part, to the lack of specificity in fear assessment. Further, the relation between psychopathy and fear may be better understood using the two‐factor model because, in theory, fear has opposing associations with interpersonal‐affective (Factor 1) and impulsive‐antisocial (Factor 2) traits. The present study aimed to test if the two factors of psychopathy are deferentially related to fear reactivity. To examine this, we collected sympathetic (SNS; skin conductance) and parasympathetic (PNS; respiratory sinus arrhythmia) nervous system reactivity to an interactive virtual reality horror video in a nonclinical sample (N = 103). Also, we included measures of emotional reactivity to fear and self‐report of situational fear. Results indicated that coinhibition (i.e., low PNS and SNS) of the two physiological systems predicted Factor 1, suggesting that individuals high on Factor 1 showed little change in both branches of the autonomic nervous system in response to fear. In contrast, Factor 2 was predicted by high PNS reactivity, suggesting a vulnerability to emotion dysregulation. On emotional reactivity, Factor 1 was related to feeling happier after the fear condition, whereas Factor 2 was related to feeling less in control. Factor 1 was inversely associated with situational fear, specifically, lower scores of social phobias, fear of aggression, and physical injury. In summary, the results provide evidence that psychopathy is related to fearlessness; however, this is unique to the personality features of psychopathy.</description><subject>Adolescent</subject><subject>Antisocial personality disorder</subject><subject>Antisocial Personality Disorder - physiopathology</subject><subject>Arrhythmia</subject><subject>autonomic</subject><subject>Autonomic nervous system</subject><subject>Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology</subject><subject>Computer applications</subject><subject>Conductance</subject><subject>Emotions</subject><subject>Emotions - physiology</subject><subject>Fear &amp; phobias</subject><subject>Fear - physiology</subject><subject>fearlessness</subject><subject>Female</subject><subject>Galvanic Skin Response - physiology</subject><subject>Humans</subject><subject>Male</subject><subject>Nervous system</subject><subject>Parasympathetic nervous system</subject><subject>Personality</subject><subject>Physiology</subject><subject>psychopathy</subject><subject>respiratory sinus arrhythmia</subject><subject>Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia - physiology</subject><subject>skin conductance</subject><subject>Social behavior</subject><subject>Virtual Reality</subject><subject>Young Adult</subject><issn>0048-5772</issn><issn>1469-8986</issn><issn>1540-5958</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2019</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><recordid>eNp90c2K1TAUB_AginO9uvEBJOBmEDrmo01ad8PgFwx4QV24CqfpqTdDb1OTdMa68hF8Rp_EXDu6cGE2IfA7fw75E_KYszOez_MpLtMZl0KrO2TDS9UUdVOru2TDWFkXldbihDyI8Yox1nAh7pMTybholOYb8m23X6Lzg__sLAw0INjkrl1aqBvzK05-jEiTp0B7hPDz-w83drPFjl67kOZ1ZDh6_DphcDhafEHPY_TWQXJ5mt64tKd5R7v3E6S9szQFcCk-JPd6GCI-ur235OOrlx8u3hSX716_vTi_LKystCqasq6FRK2VFapvgFdlLwBAty1UbV9WHVMMeY01l1oDb1oFjFnVc2lFhyi35HTNnYL_MmNM5uCixWGAEf0cjTj-iiyFqjJ9-g-98nMY83ZG8EpLJnSmW_JsVTb4GAP2ZgruAGExnJljI-bYiPndSMZPbiPn9oDdX_qnggz4Cm7cgMt_oszu_afdGvoLl9KZ3Q</recordid><startdate>201901</startdate><enddate>201901</enddate><creator>Thomson, Nicholas D.</creator><creator>Aboutanos, Michel</creator><creator>Kiehl, Kent A.</creator><creator>Neumann, Craig</creator><creator>Galusha, Carla</creator><creator>Fanti, Kostas A.</creator><general>Blackwell Publishing Ltd</general><scope>CGR</scope><scope>CUY</scope><scope>CVF</scope><scope>ECM</scope><scope>EIF</scope><scope>NPM</scope><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>7TK</scope><scope>K9.</scope><scope>7X8</scope><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5127-8174</orcidid></search><sort><creationdate>201901</creationdate><title>Physiological reactivity in response to a fear‐induced virtual reality experience: Associations with psychopathic traits</title><author>Thomson, Nicholas D. ; Aboutanos, Michel ; Kiehl, Kent A. ; Neumann, Craig ; Galusha, Carla ; Fanti, Kostas A.</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c3576-948823e776c26f9a154f2aaa7bba5bf45d060e18e81377a19b6a00c6f13c2dee3</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2019</creationdate><topic>Adolescent</topic><topic>Antisocial personality disorder</topic><topic>Antisocial Personality Disorder - physiopathology</topic><topic>Arrhythmia</topic><topic>autonomic</topic><topic>Autonomic nervous system</topic><topic>Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology</topic><topic>Computer applications</topic><topic>Conductance</topic><topic>Emotions</topic><topic>Emotions - physiology</topic><topic>Fear &amp; phobias</topic><topic>Fear - physiology</topic><topic>fearlessness</topic><topic>Female</topic><topic>Galvanic Skin Response - physiology</topic><topic>Humans</topic><topic>Male</topic><topic>Nervous system</topic><topic>Parasympathetic nervous system</topic><topic>Personality</topic><topic>Physiology</topic><topic>psychopathy</topic><topic>respiratory sinus arrhythmia</topic><topic>Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia - physiology</topic><topic>skin conductance</topic><topic>Social behavior</topic><topic>Virtual Reality</topic><topic>Young Adult</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Thomson, Nicholas D.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Aboutanos, Michel</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kiehl, Kent A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Neumann, Craig</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Galusha, Carla</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Fanti, Kostas A.</creatorcontrib><collection>Medline</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE (Ovid)</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>PubMed</collection><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>Neurosciences Abstracts</collection><collection>ProQuest Health &amp; Medical Complete (Alumni)</collection><collection>MEDLINE - Academic</collection><jtitle>Psychophysiology</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Thomson, Nicholas D.</au><au>Aboutanos, Michel</au><au>Kiehl, Kent A.</au><au>Neumann, Craig</au><au>Galusha, Carla</au><au>Fanti, Kostas A.</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Physiological reactivity in response to a fear‐induced virtual reality experience: Associations with psychopathic traits</atitle><jtitle>Psychophysiology</jtitle><addtitle>Psychophysiology</addtitle><date>2019-01</date><risdate>2019</risdate><volume>56</volume><issue>1</issue><spage>e13276</spage><epage>n/a</epage><pages>e13276-n/a</pages><issn>0048-5772</issn><eissn>1469-8986</eissn><eissn>1540-5958</eissn><abstract>Despite the longstanding discussion around the link between psychopathy and fearlessness, few studies have explicitly tested this association, and results have been mixed. This may be due, in part, to the lack of specificity in fear assessment. Further, the relation between psychopathy and fear may be better understood using the two‐factor model because, in theory, fear has opposing associations with interpersonal‐affective (Factor 1) and impulsive‐antisocial (Factor 2) traits. The present study aimed to test if the two factors of psychopathy are deferentially related to fear reactivity. To examine this, we collected sympathetic (SNS; skin conductance) and parasympathetic (PNS; respiratory sinus arrhythmia) nervous system reactivity to an interactive virtual reality horror video in a nonclinical sample (N = 103). Also, we included measures of emotional reactivity to fear and self‐report of situational fear. Results indicated that coinhibition (i.e., low PNS and SNS) of the two physiological systems predicted Factor 1, suggesting that individuals high on Factor 1 showed little change in both branches of the autonomic nervous system in response to fear. In contrast, Factor 2 was predicted by high PNS reactivity, suggesting a vulnerability to emotion dysregulation. On emotional reactivity, Factor 1 was related to feeling happier after the fear condition, whereas Factor 2 was related to feeling less in control. Factor 1 was inversely associated with situational fear, specifically, lower scores of social phobias, fear of aggression, and physical injury. In summary, the results provide evidence that psychopathy is related to fearlessness; however, this is unique to the personality features of psychopathy.</abstract><cop>United States</cop><pub>Blackwell Publishing Ltd</pub><pmid>30129671</pmid><doi>10.1111/psyp.13276</doi><tpages>16</tpages><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5127-8174</orcidid></addata></record>
fulltext fulltext
identifier ISSN: 0048-5772
ispartof Psychophysiology, 2019-01, Vol.56 (1), p.e13276-n/a
issn 0048-5772
1469-8986
1540-5958
language eng
recordid cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_2091234265
source Wiley; EBSCOhost SPORTDiscus - Ebooks
subjects Adolescent
Antisocial personality disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder - physiopathology
Arrhythmia
autonomic
Autonomic nervous system
Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology
Computer applications
Conductance
Emotions
Emotions - physiology
Fear & phobias
Fear - physiology
fearlessness
Female
Galvanic Skin Response - physiology
Humans
Male
Nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
Personality
Physiology
psychopathy
respiratory sinus arrhythmia
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia - physiology
skin conductance
Social behavior
Virtual Reality
Young Adult
title Physiological reactivity in response to a fear‐induced virtual reality experience: Associations with psychopathic traits
url http://sfxeu10.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/loughborough?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-01-12T20%3A00%3A13IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-proquest_cross&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Physiological%20reactivity%20in%20response%20to%20a%20fear%E2%80%90induced%20virtual%20reality%20experience:%20Associations%20with%20psychopathic%20traits&rft.jtitle=Psychophysiology&rft.au=Thomson,%20Nicholas%20D.&rft.date=2019-01&rft.volume=56&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=e13276&rft.epage=n/a&rft.pages=e13276-n/a&rft.issn=0048-5772&rft.eissn=1469-8986&rft_id=info:doi/10.1111/psyp.13276&rft_dat=%3Cproquest_cross%3E2157302712%3C/proquest_cross%3E%3Cgrp_id%3Ecdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c3576-948823e776c26f9a154f2aaa7bba5bf45d060e18e81377a19b6a00c6f13c2dee3%3C/grp_id%3E%3Coa%3E%3C/oa%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=2157302712&rft_id=info:pmid/30129671&rfr_iscdi=true