It is estimated that within _________ of experiencing social rejection the psychopath will engage in some antisocial behavior.

• A. 5 minutes
• B. 20 minutes
• C. 1 hour
• D. 24 hours

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how quickly someone with psychopathic tendencies tends to react to social rejection with antisocial behavior. Psychopathy involves impulsivity and difficulties with emotional regulation, so when such an individual experiences rejection, the emotional surge and disinhibition can prompt a fast, impulsive response. Twenty minutes captures that brief window where arousal from the rejection is still high and actions driven by impulsivity are most likely to occur, before longer-term coping or rumination can temper the impulse. A much shorter frame like five minutes may be too soon for the action to organize, while longer frames such as an hour or a day allow for reflection, social mediation, or cooling down that reduce the likelihood of immediate antisocial acts. So, twenty minutes best fits the pattern of a rapid, impulsive reaction to social rejection.