PSYCHOPATHY, RACE, AND DELAY OF GRATIFICATION BY ADOLESCENT DELINQUENTS

Abstract

Currently at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Voluntary delay of gratification was investigated in Negro and white psychopathic and normal institutionalized adolescent delinquents. The results indicate that increased time of delay of gratification led to a decreased preference for a delayed reward by white psychopaths, but not white normals. This relationship was reversed for Negro psychopaths and normals, with the latter Ss being influenced more by the delay interval. These findings are discussed in terms of current theory concerning psychopathy and the Negro subculture.