Frontal Lobe Executive Function and Emotional Recognition Ability of Psychopathic Inmates

Abstract

This article is based on the frontal lobe dysfunction hypothesis and integrated emotion system model related to executive function and emotional recognition abilities of the psychopath and investigates whether the same types of frontal lobe dysfunction and damage to emotional recognition abilities occur in similar groups within the country. For specific research design, PCL-R was conducted with inmates in prisons and based on the results, psychopathic criminals and non-psychopathic criminals were classified. In order to investigate the executive function and emotional recognition in each of two groups, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Test, and a revised version of Emotional Recognition Test were administered. As for the control variable, intelligence of the subjects was measured by Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. As a result of the three tests, there were differences between groups, as we expected. Psychopathic criminals showed lower performance ability than did the non-psychopathic group in terms of executive function. However, there was no significant difference in the Emotional Recognition Test. In conclusion, the result that psychopath criminals were showed relatively lower executive function means a specific treatment program are needed to care some criminals who have neurological dysfunction, in the Criminal Justice System.