Psychopathic traits and phenomenal characteristics of autobiographical memories

Abstract

Recent research has indicated that criminal psychopaths have difficulty in processing emotional information. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between primary/secondary subtypes of psychopathy and autobiographical memory. One hundred and seventy-two undergraduate students assessed using the Primary and Secondary Psychopathy Scales were asked to rate a positive, a negative, and a neutral autobiographical memory, using the Memory Characteristics Questionnaire. We found that high primary psychopathic individuals experienced less sensorial and contextual details when remembering positive memories. We also found that high secondary psychopathic individuals recalled their memories less frequently. Further, high psychopathic individuals remembered their memories less clearly than low psychopathic controls. Our findings suggest that psychopathy affects their autobiographical memories.