This study aimed to investigate the relationship between schizotypal personality and social cognitive functioning, in particular empathy and ToM. It was hypothesised that higher schizotypy would be associated with lower empathy and further, that negative schizotypal traits would have a higher association with lower empathy than positive schizotypal traits. Results from this study support the hypothesis as schizotypy was found to be negatively correlated with empathy, such that higher scores on the SPQ resulted in lower scores on the EQ. Furthermore, negative schizotypy was found to be negatively correlated with empathy, while there was no significant relationship found between positive schizotypy and empathy. It was further hypothesised that
…show more content…
However, both negative and positive schizotypy were found to be similarly negatively correlated with ToM. Finally, it was hypothesised that when controlling for negative affect, the magnitude of predicted relationships would be reduced. Results from this study support the hypothesis as partial correlations, controlling for negative affect, between total schizotypy and empathy, positive schizotypy and empathy, negative schizotypy and empathy, and total schizotypy and ToM were all found to lessen, though still remain significant. Further, partial correlations between positive schizotypy and ToM, and negative schizotypy and ToM were found to be non-significant, when controlling for negative …show more content…
Hence, social cognitive deficits may be interesting targets for psychosocial and pharmacological treatments.
The current study used only one measure of empathy. While the EQ has been found to be reliable and valid, research suggests that it is not without limitations, which may restrict its accuracy in measuring empathy. The EQ is a self-report measure and studies have found that self-reported measures of empathy are not correlated with tests of empathic accuracy (Muncer & Ling, 2006). Furthermore, studies have found that individuals with schizophrenia have poor insight and thus may be unable to accurately judge their own empathic abilities (Henry et al., 2008). Moreover,
Further research should aim to include a greater variety of measures of both empathy and ToM, such as the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Faux Pas Test, to more accurately measure the relationship between schizotypy and empathy, and schizotypy and
However, both negative and positive schizotypy were found to be similarly negatively correlated with ToM. Finally, it was hypothesised that when controlling for negative affect, the magnitude of predicted relationships would be reduced. Results from this study support the hypothesis as partial correlations, controlling for negative affect, between total schizotypy and empathy, positive schizotypy and empathy, negative schizotypy and empathy, and total schizotypy and ToM were all found to lessen, though still remain significant. Further, partial correlations between positive schizotypy and ToM, and negative schizotypy and ToM were found to be non-significant, when controlling for negative …show more content…
Hence, social cognitive deficits may be interesting targets for psychosocial and pharmacological treatments.
The current study used only one measure of empathy. While the EQ has been found to be reliable and valid, research suggests that it is not without limitations, which may restrict its accuracy in measuring empathy. The EQ is a self-report measure and studies have found that self-reported measures of empathy are not correlated with tests of empathic accuracy (Muncer & Ling, 2006). Furthermore, studies have found that individuals with schizophrenia have poor insight and thus may be unable to accurately judge their own empathic abilities (Henry et al., 2008). Moreover,
Further research should aim to include a greater variety of measures of both empathy and ToM, such as the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Faux Pas Test, to more accurately measure the relationship between schizotypy and empathy, and schizotypy and