Psychopathy and Delay of Gratification

Abstract

Groups of adult prisoners (white normals, n = 32; white psychopaths, n = 29; black normals, n = 31; black psychopaths, n = 33) were asked to choose between a small reward available now and a reward three times as large available after delays of one hour, four hours, one day, and one week. Assignment to groups was on the basis of MMPI scores on scales 4 and 9, with psychopaths being defined by T scores of 70 or greater on 4 or 4 and 9 and normals by T scores all below 70. Preliminary analyses showed that psychopaths were significantly younger at first arrest and had significantly more previous arrests. Further analyses showed no effects due to race of experimenter. The principal analysis revealed a significant three-way interaction of diagnosis x race x delay interval. Further analyses revealed that white psychopaths and black normals showed more decrease in willingness to delay gratification between one day and one week than was shown by white normals and black psychopaths.