Reconciling discrepant findings for P 3 brain response in criminal psychopathy through reference to the concept of externalizing proneness

We sought to address inconsistencies in the literature on amplitude of P 3 brain potential response in offenders diagnosed with psychopathy. These inconsistencies contrast with the reliable finding of reduced P 3 in relation to externalizing tendencies, which overlap with impulsive‐antisocial features of psychopathy, as distinguished from the affective‐interpersonal features. Employing a sample of incarcerated male offenders ( N  = 154) who completed the P sychopathy C hecklist– R evised along with a three‐stimulus visual oddball task, we tested the hypothesis that impulsive‐antisocial features of psychopathy would selectively exhibit an inverse relationship with P 3 amplitude. Clear support for this hypothesis was obtained. Our findings clarify the discrepant findings regarding psychopathy and P 3, and establish P 3 as a neurophysiological point of contact between psychopathy and externalizing proneness from the broader psychopathology literature.