A Neural Perspective of Immoral Behavior and Psychopathy

Abstract

The roots of immoral behavior may be traced to dysfunction within neural regions that integrate emotion and decision making. Individuals who engage in immoral behavior are in some ways similar to individuals with psychopathy. While these behaviors have long been discussed within the realm of social science and psychology, only recently the neurobiological roots of these behaviors began to unfold. We review evidence from brain lesion, neuroimaging, and genetic studies, which indicate that immoral behaviors are accompanied by deficits in emotional function and social learning mediated via neural systems in which the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala are key substrates. While these neural dysfunctions are often associated with decisions that bring some immediate gratification, they come at the expense of leading to negative consequences in the long term. Yet these same dysfunctions can, under specific circumstances, have paradoxical effects in helping the individual make “rational” decisions.

Keywords:

• amygdala
• decision making
• emotion
• moral judgment
• psychopathy
• prefrontal cortex