http://www.msnbc.com/news/919364.asp

Repeat murderers show positive attitude toward violence

LONDON, May 28 --- Scientists have adapted a standard psychological test that detects underlying prejudices to delve into the minds of psychopathic murderers. Serial killers can be adept at lying and deception, and may turn on the charm to confuse their interrogators, but researchers at Cardiff University in Wales say their test reveals implicit beliefs.

"WE'VE MODIFIED a classic test and applied it to forensic psychology," Nicola Gray, of the school of psychology at the university, said in an interview. "It is the first time we have really been able to gain access to the minds of violent offenders and see what their beliefs of violence are without using measures that can be faked."

The test, which requires people to perform tasks and answer questions by computer, shows that psychopathic murderers have more positive reactions to violence than other offenders, which may underpin their actions and help to expose those most likely to kill.

"The murdering psychopaths showed a much more positive association to violence. Psychopaths who were not murderers had a much more negative view of violence," Gray explained.

The test is designed to prevent faking, so violent criminals who may try to deceive police or psychologists would not be able to fool the computer, Gray said.

The scientists hope to use their test to evaluate people who have been charged with a crime but protest their innocence, and during parole hearings to determine if the criminals are likely to offend again.

"But this is the first data and we need to do a lot more work before we can make almost life-or-death decisions about whether people should come out of prison or not," she added.

In research reported in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, Gray and her colleagues evaluated the test on more than 100 violent criminals.

The researchers also adapted the classic Implicit Association Test to use on arsonists, pedophiles and rapists.

"If this difference can be picked up by the 'violent' IAT before an offense is committed, this test may become an important tool for distinguishing psychopaths who are likely to commit extremely violent offenses from those who are not," Gray said.

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