Our inherited ability to detect and differentiate facial expressions is an incredibly advantageous survival instinct. Being able to proficiently identify the facial affect of an aggressive enemy was an essential skill required for our survival. Similarly, recognizing different facial expressions is also important in our sociability in which we learn what is and is not socially acceptable. It has been theorized that individuals with psychopathy possess a deficit in their perception of these facial expressions. Psychopaths are notably characterized by their callous, manipulative, remorseless, yet strikingly charming behavior. Numerous studies have found that psychopathic individuals possess an abnormal or even nonexistent response to fear-invoking stimuli. The focus of this article is to establish the connection between the seemingly dysfunctional amygdala of psychopaths and their ability to detect facial emotional expressions (Glass & Newman, 2006).
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However, Glass and Newman (2006) performed a study to replicate the previous studies in an effort to accurately establish the existence of a deficit in the psychopathic amygdala. The researchers hypothesized that the psychopathic participants’ ability to accurately identify fearful and sad facial expressions would be less than those of the control group. In addition, they also aimed to determine how manipulating the attentional focus of the participant would influence their facial affect processing. Two different conditions were used to test their hypotheses; one of which required identification of the facial expression shown while the other was to locate the certain emotional expression amongst the group
However, Glass and Newman (2006) performed a study to replicate the previous studies in an effort to accurately establish the existence of a deficit in the psychopathic amygdala. The researchers hypothesized that the psychopathic participants’ ability to accurately identify fearful and sad facial expressions would be less than those of the control group. In addition, they also aimed to determine how manipulating the attentional focus of the participant would influence their facial affect processing. Two different conditions were used to test their hypotheses; one of which required identification of the facial expression shown while the other was to locate the certain emotional expression amongst the group