Journal article
Neurocognitive deficits related to poor decision-making in people behind bars
Psychonomic bulletin & review, Vol.15(1), pp.44-51
02/2008
DOI: 10.3758/PBR.15.1.44
PMCID: PMC3985492
PMID: 18605478
Abstract
Using a novel quantitative model of repeated choice behavior, we investigated the cognitive processes of criminal offenders incarcerated for various crimes. Eighty-one criminals, including violent offenders, drug and sex offenders, drivers operating a vehicle while impaired (OWI) and eighteen matched controls were tested. The results were also contrasted to those obtained from neurological patients with focal brain lesions in the orbitofrontal cortex, and from drug abusers. Participants performed the computerized version of the Iowa Gambling Task (
Bechara et al., 1994
), and the results were decomposed into specific component processes using the Expectancy Valence model (
Busemeyer & Stout, 2002
). The findings indicated that whereas all criminal groups tended to select disadvantageously, the cognitive profiles exhibited by different groups were considerably different. Certain subpopulations, most significantly drug and sex offenders, overweighted potential gains compared to losses, similar to chronic cocaine abusers. In contrast, assault/murder criminals tended to make less consistent choices and to focus on immediate outcomes, and in these respects were more similar to patients with orbitofrontal damage. The current cognitive model provides a novel way for building a bridge between cognitive neuroscience and complex human behaviors.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Neurocognitive deficits related to poor decision-making in people behind bars
- Creators
- Eldad Yechiam - (Technion – Israel Institute of Technology)Jason E Kanz - (University of Iowa)Antoine Bechara - (University of Iowa)Julie, C Stout - (Indiana University)Jerome, R Busemeyer - (Indiana University)Elizabeth M Altmaier - (University of Iowa)Jane S Paulsen - (University of Iowa)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychonomic bulletin & review, Vol.15(1), pp.44-51
- DOI
- 10.3758/PBR.15.1.44
- PMID
- 18605478
- PMCID
- PMC3985492
- ISSN
- 1069-9384
- eISSN
- 1531-5320
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2008
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
- Record Identifier
- 9984083858602771
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