Electrodermal indices in a selected prison sample and students

Electrodermal indices relevant to Eysenck's (1970) theory of criminology and subsequent modifications of this theory were compared in a prison sample selected for ‘good’ home backgrounds and a student sample. A previously developed differential electrodermal conditioning paradigm of social learning was administered to both samples.Selected prisoners displayed significantly less evidence of differential responding throughout the extinction phase (p < 0.01), significantly longer half time recovery (p < 0.01) and significantly less stimulus specific responding in extinction (p < 0.01). Spontaneous fluctuations did not differentiate the samples.Results are discussed with reference to personality measures taken concurrently and it is suggested that significant differences between the samples are comparable to previously reported differences between primary psychopaths and non-psychopaths.