Scientists from Radboud University found that people with elevated levels of psychopathy are not only more resistant to pain but less able to learn from painful experiences.

The researchers theorise that this could be part of the reason why people with psychopathic traits fail to learn from negative consequences.

The insensitivity to punishment might combine with the excessive drive towards reward, which can make psychopaths impulsive and persistent.

The study saw participants fill out questionnaires used to detect levels of psychopathic tendencies.

After the questionnaire was filled out, they were given a series of small electric shocks via electrodes on their arms.

Scientists recorded the point where the pain first became noticeable in the participant and then at the maximum level the participant was willing to endure.

The study found those with psychopathic traits failed to change their behaviour even with the painful electric shocks.

“What we know from research is that people with psychopathic traits consistently fail to change their behaviour even after receiving punishment, which suggests they struggle to learn from the negative consequences of their actions,” lead author Dr Dimana Atanassova said.

Psychopathy is characterised by pathological lying, manipulativeness, lack of guilt and tendencies towards poor behavioural control.

However, not everyone with these traits is considered a psychopath.

“The exploitative, antisocial behaviour of those with high psychopathic traits has often been looked at through the prism of callousness or lack of remorse—in a sense, that they simply don’t care about the consequences.

“But this study’s findings suggest that the problem might be, partially, explained with a deficit in how they learn about consequences.”