Of particular importance for the present argument is that a consensus view of psychopathy (determined empirically, based on both expert ratings and research findings) based on the FFM describes psychopaths as being high on the neuroticism trait of impulsiveness, which is an analogue of negative urgency (Lynam & Widiger, 2007). Psychopaths do experience intense emotions associated with gratifying their needs, but they lack an affective connection to the consequences of their actions and hence the long-term implications of those actions for themselves. As a result, they act in ill-advised ways. Thus, demonstrations of associations between the OFC/VM PFC-amygdala system and psychopathy is quite consistent with our claim of an association between this system and the urgency traits.
