the response modulation hypothesis

[ethernight]

Whereas most people automatically anticipate the consequences of their actions, automatically feel shame for unkind deeds, automatically understand why they should persist in the face of frustration, automatically distrust propositions that seem too good to be true, and are automatically aware of their commitments to others, psychopaths may only become aware of such factors with efforts. (Newman, 1998, p.84)
--Psychopath: Emotion and the Brain