Research indicates that psychopaths don't experience fear like the rest of us. For example, how do you react if you're suddenly startled by a loud noise? Most individuals will jump or immediately develop sweaty palms. However, experiments show that psychopaths barely startle--and their hands stay dry.

Do psychopaths have a startle response?

Experiments have shown that they have a reduced startle response. If someone gave you a fright while you were watching a horror movie, you would probably show an “exaggerated startle response” – in other words, you'd jump out of your skin. Psychopaths react far less intensely in such fear-evoking situations.

Can psychopaths get scared?

Psychopathic individuals can feel fear despite having trouble in the automatic detection and responsivity to threat, Psychological Bulletin reports.