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Anderson SAS, Hawes DJ, Snow PC. Cognitive and affective perspective taking amongst adolescent offenders with variants of callous-unemotional traits. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:2755-2765. [PMID: 38200275 PMCID: PMC11272682 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02356-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that associations between antisocial behaviour, callous-unemotional (CU) traits and cognitive empathy (e.g. perspective taking) vary depending on more fine-grained dimensions of these constructs. This study examined associations between adolescent antisocial behaviour and individual differences in cognitive and affective perspective taking ability. Based on current theory regarding distinct variants of CU traits, we further tested whether the correlates of CU traits differed amongst youth with high versus low levels of anxiety. Participants were 130 male adolescents (81 youth offenders; 49 non-offenders) aged 13-20 years, of predominantly Caucasian and Aboriginal Australian ethnicity. Perspective taking skills were indexed using performance-based testing, and self-report data was collected on CU traits and anxiety in a cross-sectional design. Offender status was associated with poorer cognitive and affective perspective taking. In addition, associations between CU traits and perspective taking skills were moderated by anxiety. Specifically, CU traits were associated with poorer skills for second-order cognitive perspective taking amongst high-anxiety youth, whereas CU traits were associated with better cognitive and affective perspective taking skills amongst low-anxiety youth. More fine-grained assessment of such factors stands to enhance understanding of, and effective intervention for, antisocial youth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David J Hawes
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Pamela C Snow
- School of Education, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
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2
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Gaule A, Martin P, Lockwood PL, Cutler J, Apps M, Roberts R, Phillips H, Brown K, McCrory EJ, Viding E. Reduced prosocial motivation and effort in adolescents with conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:1061-1071. [PMID: 38287126 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prosocial behaviours - acts that benefit others - are of crucial importance for many species including humans. However, adolescents with conduct problems (CP), unlike their typically developing (TD) peers, demonstrate markedly reduced engagement in prosocial behaviours. This pattern is particularly pronounced in adolescents with CP and high levels of callous-unemotional traits (CP/HCU) who are at increased risk of developing psychopathy in adulthood. While a substantial amount of research has investigated the cognitive-affective mechanisms thought to underlie antisocial behaviour, much less is known about the mechanisms that could explain reduced prosocial behaviours in adolescents with CP. METHODS Here we examined the willingness to exert effort to benefit oneself (self) and another person (other, prosocial condition) in children with CP/HCU, CP and lower levels of CU traits (CP/LCU) and their TD peers. The task captured both prosocial choices, and actual effort exerted following prosocial choices, in adolescent boys aged 11-16 (27 CP/HCU; 34 CP/LCU; 33 TD). We used computational modelling to reveal the mechanistic processes involved when choosing prosocial acts. RESULTS We found that both CP/HCU and CP/LCU groups were more averse to initiating effortful prosocial acts than TD adolescents - both at a cognitive and at a behavioural level. Strikingly, even if they chose to initiate a prosocial act, the CP/HCU group exerted less effort following this prosocial choice than other groups. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that reduced exertion of effort to benefit others may be an important factor that differentiates adolescents with CP/HCU from their peers with CP/LCU. They offer new insights into what might drive low prosocial behaviour in adolescents with CP, including vulnerabilities that may particularly characterise those with high levels of CU traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Gaule
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Peter Martin
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Patricia L Lockwood
- Centre for Human Brain Health, Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Developmental Science, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jo Cutler
- Centre for Human Brain Health, Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Developmental Science, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Matthew Apps
- Centre for Human Brain Health, Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Developmental Science, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Ruth Roberts
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Harriet Phillips
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Katie Brown
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Eamon J McCrory
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Essi Viding
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
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3
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Rochas V, Montandon ML, Rodriguez C, Herrmann FR, Eytan A, Pegna AJ, Michel CM, Giannakopoulos P. Visual perspective taking neural processing in forensic cases with high density EEG. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15973. [PMID: 38987366 PMCID: PMC11237136 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66522-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This EEG study aims at dissecting the differences in the activation of neural generators between borderline personality disorder patients with court-ordered measures (BDL-COM) and healthy controls in visual perspective taking. We focused on the distinction between mentalizing (Avatar) and non-mentalizing (Arrow) stimuli as well as self versus other-perspective in the dot perspective task (dPT) in a sample of 15 BDL-COM cases and 54 controls, all of male gender. BDL-COM patients showed a late and diffuse right hemisphere involvement of neural generators contrasting with the occipitofrontal topography observed in controls. For Avatars only and compared to controls, the adoption of Self perspective involved a lower EEG activity in the left inferior frontal, right middle temporal cortex and insula in BDL-COM patients prior to 80 ms post-stimulus. When taking the Other-perspective, BDL-COM patients also showed a lower activation of superior frontal, right inferior temporal and fusiform cortex within the same time frame. The beta oscillation power was significantly lower in BDL-COM patients than controls between 400 and 1300 ms post stimulus in the Avatar-Other condition. These results indicate that BDL-COM patients display both altered topography of EEG activation patterns and reduced abilities to mobilize beta oscillations during the treatment of mentalistic stimuli in dPT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Rochas
- Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Human Neuroscience Platform, Fondation Campus Biotech Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Marie-Louise Montandon
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cristelle Rodriguez
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François R Herrmann
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ariel Eytan
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alan J Pegna
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christoph M Michel
- Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Panteleimon Giannakopoulos
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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4
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Krüppel J, Yoon D, Zerres K, Brunner F, Mokros A. In the I of the beholder: an attempt to capture the implicit self-concept regarding psychopathy. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1346029. [PMID: 38952830 PMCID: PMC11216285 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1346029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
This article explores the implicit self-concept pertaining to psychopathy. Two online studies showed inconsistent results, with Study 1 (n = 243) suggesting that psychopathy is linked to an implicit self-concept marked by low empathy and Study 2 (n = 230) implying no such relationship. In a sample of offenders and community controls (Study 3a, n = 166), higher scores on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) were related to an implicit self-concept of being less rather than more antisocial, and the implicit self-concept showed incremental validity compared to the explicit self-concept. The retesting of an offender subsample (Study 3b, n = 47) yielded no evidence for temporal stability or convergent validity. The implicit self-concept of highly psychopathic individuals thus appears to vary, depending on the social context. Future studies should replicate these results in different samples, using additional external correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Krüppel
- Chair of Personality Psychology, Legal Psychology, and Assessment, Faculty of Psychology, FernUniversität in Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Dahlnym Yoon
- Institute for Forensic Psychology & Forensic Medicine, Medical School Hamburg (MSH), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Zerres
- Chair of Personality Psychology, Legal Psychology, and Assessment, Faculty of Psychology, FernUniversität in Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Franziska Brunner
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Mokros
- Chair of Personality Psychology, Legal Psychology, and Assessment, Faculty of Psychology, FernUniversität in Hagen, Hagen, Germany
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5
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Garofalo C, Jones A, Nentjes L, Gillespie SM. Psychopathy and gaze cueing. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2024; 83:101936. [PMID: 38128274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Psychopathic traits - and especially callous affective features - have been linked to altered processing of others' emotional expressions, and to reduced attention to the eyes. Despite the importance of gaze cueing (i.e., the tendency to orient attention toward where someone else is looking) for social functioning, few studies have investigated relationships between psychopathic traits and gaze cueing, and whether facial emotional expression influence these relationships, obtaining mixed results. To address this gap, the present study aimed to evaluate associations between psychopathic traits and gaze cueing for emotional and neutral expressions. METHODS 65 non-clinical male participants (Mage = 27.3 years) completed two self-report measures of psychopathy and performed laboratory tasks to assess gaze-cueing for emotional vs. neutral faces and an arrow-cueing task as a comparison. RESULTS Linear mixed models showed no significant associations of emotional (versus neutral) expressions, or psychopathy trait dimensions, with either gaze cueing or arrow cueing. LIMITATIONS Reliance on a convenience sample of non-clinical men, assessed with self-reports measures of psychopathy, and using static emotional stimuli limit the generalizability of our findings. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that psychopathic traits are not associated with individual differences in following others' gaze to direct attention, and that there was no advantage for affective relative to neutral expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Garofalo
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Italy.
| | - Andrew Jones
- School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moore's University, United Kingdom
| | - Lieke Nentjes
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Steven M Gillespie
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Zhou S, Yang H, Wang Y, Zhou X, Li S. Spontaneous visual perspective-taking with constant attention cue: A modified dot-perspective task paradigm. Atten Percept Psychophys 2024; 86:1176-1185. [PMID: 37684500 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-023-02772-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
It has been argued that humans can employ mentalizing implicitly and automatically, even with others' visual experiences. In terms of visual perspective-taking (i.e., inferring another's visual experience), the Dot Perspective Task has been considered to provide evidence for this hypothesis. People were found to respond slower when their visual experience was inconsistent with others' (referred to as the consistency effect). However, the specific underlying cognitive process of the consistency effect has been a topic of intense debate, i.e., whether the consistency effect represents a process of social cognition such as mentalizing. Here, we introduce a modified version of the Dot Perspective Task, in which all the targets appear at the position where the avatar is gazing, while some of the targets are invisible to the avatar due to a barrier that may block the avatar's line of sight. Therefore, the effect of perspective-taking and attention-cueing can be better disassociated in the modified paradigm. The results of Experiment 1 illustrated a significant consistency effect, which was further confirmed in Experiment 2. More importantly, the consistency effect was absent in Experiment 3, where the avatar sat with his back to the participants. These findings imply that the consistency effect reflects the automatic computation of others' visual information, and rule out the attention-cueing account of the consistency effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Zhou
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huaqi Yang
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xinyue Zhou
- School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shiyi Li
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300074, China.
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.
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7
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Vaskinn A, Rokicki J, Bell C, Tesli N, Bang N, Hjell G, Fischer-Vieler T, Haukvik UK, Friestad C. Violent Offending in Males With or Without Schizophrenia: A Role for Social Cognition? Schizophr Bull 2024; 50:663-672. [PMID: 37861424 PMCID: PMC11059786 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Reduced social cognition has been reported in individuals who have committed interpersonal violence. It is unclear if individuals with schizophrenia and a history of violence have larger impairments than violent individuals without psychosis and non-violent individuals with schizophrenia. We examined social cognition in two groups with violent offenses, comparing their performance to non-violent individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls. STUDY DESIGN Two social cognitive domains were assessed in four groups: men with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder with (SSD-V, n = 27) or without (SSD-NV, n = 42) a history of violence, incarcerated men serving preventive detention sentences (V, n = 22), and healthy male controls (HC, n = 76). Theory of mind (ToM) was measured with the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC), body emotion perception with Emotion in Biological Motion (EmoBio) test. STUDY RESULTS Kruskal-Wallis H-tests revealed overall group differences for social cognition. SSD-V had a global and clinically significant social cognitive impairment. V had a specific impairment, for ToM. Binary logistic regressions predicting violence category membership from social cognition and psychosis (SSD status) were conducted. The model with best fit, explaining 18%-25% of the variance, had ToM as the only predictor. CONCLUSIONS Social cognitive impairment was present in individuals with a history of violence, with larger and more widespread impairment seen in schizophrenia. ToM predicted violence category membership, psychosis did not. The results suggest a role for social cognition in understanding interpersonal violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Vaskinn
- Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jaroslav Rokicki
- Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Psychosis Research Section, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christina Bell
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Acute Psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Natalia Tesli
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Psychosis Research Section, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nina Bang
- Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Mental Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gabriela Hjell
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, Østfold Hospital, Grålum, Norway
- Department of Clinical Research, Østfold Hospital, Grålum, Norway
| | - Thomas Fischer-Vieler
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway
| | - Unn K Haukvik
- Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christine Friestad
- Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- University College of Norwegian Correctional Services, Lillestrøm, Norway
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8
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Hofmann MJ, Mokros A, Schneider S. The joy of being frightened: Fear experience in psychopathy. J Pers 2024; 92:321-341. [PMID: 37929319 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Psychopathic traits are associated with abnormalities in fear processing. While traditional theories focus on a lack of fear, Hosker-Field et al. (2016) provided a new perspective. They suggested that individuals with elevated psychopathic traits may experience threatening situations with appreciation or positivity, resulting in reduced negative fear responses and heightened positive responses (fear enjoyment hypothesis, FEH). METHOD Our study aimed to refine Hosker-Field et al.'s (2016) study design, addressing methodological limitations and improving the inconsistent operationalization of fear experience in the literature. In an online sample of 353 participants from the general population, we examined the relationship between the FEH and relevant psychopathic traits, specifically those derived from the PCL-R framework (i.e., SRP 4 Factor 1), and from a more trait-based approach to psychopathy with assumed links to fearlessness (i.e., TriPM Boldness). RESULTS By employing linear mixed effect models, we extended Hosker-Field et al.'s correlational analysis and provided further evidence for the FEH, particularly in relation to psychopathic traits measured using the PCL-R framework. The results regarding Boldness, however, are somewhat inconclusive. CONCLUSION The present study enhances existing research on fear deficits in psychopathy by assessing the subjective experience of individuals facing threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam J Hofmann
- Faculty of Psychology, FernUniversität in Hagen (University of Hagen), Hagen, Germany
| | - Andreas Mokros
- Faculty of Psychology, FernUniversität in Hagen (University of Hagen), Hagen, Germany
| | - Sabrina Schneider
- Faculty of Psychology, FernUniversität in Hagen (University of Hagen), Hagen, Germany
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9
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Lisi MP, Fusaro M, Aglioti SM. Visual perspective and body ownership modulate vicarious pain and touch: A systematic review. Psychon Bull Rev 2024:10.3758/s13423-024-02477-5. [PMID: 38429591 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-024-02477-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
We conducted a systematic review investigating the influence of visual perspective and body ownership (BO) on vicarious brain resonance and vicarious sensations during the observation of pain and touch. Indeed, the way in which brain reactivity and the phenomenological experience can be modulated by blurring the bodily boundaries of self-other distinction is still unclear. We screened Scopus and WebOfScience, and identified 31 articles, published from 2000 to 2022. Results show that assuming an egocentric perspective enhances vicarious resonance and vicarious sensations. Studies on synaesthetes suggest that vicarious conscious experiences are associated with an increased tendency to embody fake body parts, even in the absence of congruent multisensory stimulation. Moreover, immersive virtual reality studies show that the type of embodied virtual body can affect high-order sensations such as appropriateness, unpleasantness, and erogeneity, associated with the touched body part and the toucher's social identity. We conclude that perspective plays a key role in the resonance with others' pain and touch, and full-BO over virtual avatars allows investigation of complex aspects of pain and touch perception which would not be possible in reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo P Lisi
- CLN2S@Sapienza, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) and Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.
- IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.
| | - Martina Fusaro
- CLN2S@Sapienza, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) and Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Maria Aglioti
- CLN2S@Sapienza, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) and Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
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10
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Winters DE, Leopold DR, Carter RM, Sakai JT. Resting-state connectivity underlying cognitive control's association with perspective taking in callous-unemotional traits. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2023; 331:111615. [PMID: 36924739 PMCID: PMC10133184 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits are often associated with impairments in perspective taking and cognitive control (regulating goal directed behavior); and adolescents with CU traits demonstrate aberrant brain activation/connectivity in areas underlying these processes. Together cognitive control and perspective taking are thought to link mechanistically to explain CU traits. Because increased cognitive control demands modulate perspective taking ability among both typically developing samples and individuals with elevated CU traits, understanding the neurophysiological substrates of these constructs could inform efforts to alleviate societal costs of antisocial behavior. The present study uses GIMME to examine the heterogenous functional brain properties (i.e., connection density, node centrality) underlying cognitive control's influence on perspective taking among adolescents on a CU trait continuum. Results reveal that cognitive control had a negative indirect association with CU traits via perspective taking; and brain connectivity indirectly associated with lower CU traits - specifically the social network via perspective taking and conflict network via cognitive control. Additionally, less negative connection density between the social and conflict networks was directly associated with higher CU traits. Our results support the growing literature on cognitive control's influence on socio-cognitive functioning in CU traits and extends that work by identifying underlying functional brain properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew E Winters
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, CO, USA.
| | - Daniel R Leopold
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, CO, USA; Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - R McKell Carter
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA; Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA, Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Joseph T Sakai
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, CO, USA
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11
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Ho MH, Kemp BT, Eisenbarth H, Rijnders RJP. Designing a neuroclinical assessment of empathy deficits in psychopathy based on the Zipper Model of Empathy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 151:105244. [PMID: 37225061 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Ho, M.H., Kemp, B.T., Eisenbarth, H. & Rijnders, R.J.P. Designing a neuroclinical assessment of empathy deficits in psychopathy based on the Zipper Model of Empathy. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV YY(Y) XXX-XXX, 2023. The heterogeneity of the literature on empathy highlights its multidimensional and dynamic nature and affects unclear descriptions of empathy in the context of psychopathology. The Zipper Model of Empathy integrates current theories of empathy and proposes that empathy maturity is dependent on whether contextual and personal factors push affective and cognitive processes together or apart. This concept paper therefore proposes a comprehensive battery of physiological and behavioral measures to empirically assess empathy processing according to this model with an application for psychopathic personality. We propose using the following measures to assess each component of this model: (1) facial electromyography; (2) the Emotion Recognition Task; (3) the Empathy Accuracy task and physiological measures (e.g., heart rate); (4) a selection of Theory of Mind tasks and an adapted Dot Perspective Task, and; (5) an adjusted Charity Task. Ultimately, we hope this paper serves as a starting point for discussion and debate on defining and assessing empathy processing, to encourage research to falsify and update this model to improve our understanding of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Him Ho
- Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Capital Region, Denmark; Maastricht University, Psychology Neurosciences Department, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Benjamin Thomas Kemp
- Maastricht University, Psychology Neurosciences Department, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Hedwig Eisenbarth
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
| | - Ronald J P Rijnders
- Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, Forensic Observation Clinic "Pieter Baan Centrum", Carl Barksweg 3, 1336 ZL, Almere, the Netherlands; Utrecht University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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12
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Montandon ML, Rodriguez C, Herrmann FR, Eytan A, Pegna AJ, Haller S, Giannakopoulos P. Seeing in my way or your way: impact of intelligence, attention, and empathy on brain reactivity. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1071676. [PMID: 37234603 PMCID: PMC10206026 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1071676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies showed that neurotypical adults are able to engage in unconscious analyses of others' mental states in the context of automatic perspective taking and experience systematic difficulties when judging the conflicts between their own (Self) and another's (Other) perspective. Several functional MRI (fMRI) studies reported widespread activation of mentalizing, salience, and executive networks when adopting the Other compared to Self perspective. This study aims to explore whether cognitive and emotional parameters impact on brain reactivity in dot perspective task (dPT). We provide here an fMRI analysis based on individual z-scores in eighty-two healthy adults who underwent the Samson's dPT after detailed assessment of fluid intelligence, attention, levels of alexithymia and social cognition abilities. Univariate regression models were used to explore the association between brain activation patterns and psychological variables. There was a strong positive association between Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and fMRI z-scores in Self perspective. When the Other perspective is taken, Continuous Performance Test (CPT)-II parameters were negatively associated with fMRI z-scores. Individuals with higher Toronto Alexithymia scale (TAS) score and lower scores in mini-Social cognition and Emotional Assessment (SEA) displayed significantly higher egocentric interference-related fMRI z-scores. Our data demonstrate that brain activation when focusing on our own perspective depends on the levels of fluid intelligence. Decreased attentional recruitment and decreased inhibitory control affects the brain efforts to adopt the Other perspective. Egocentric interference-associated brain fMRI activation was less marked in cases with better empathy abilities but the opposite was true for persons who experience increased difficulties in the recognition of emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louise Montandon
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cristelle Rodriguez
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François R. Herrmann
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ariel Eytan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alan J. Pegna
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sven Haller
- CIMC—Centre d’Imagerie Médicale de Cornavin, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Panteleimon Giannakopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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13
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Song Z, Jones A, Corcoran R, Daly N, Abu-Akel A, Gillespie SM. Psychopathic Traits and Theory of Mind Task Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 151:105231. [PMID: 37172923 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This meta-analysis aims to examine the relationship between psychopathic traits and theory of mind (ToM), which is classically and broadly defined as competency in representing and attributing mental states such as emotions, intentions, and beliefs to others. Our search strategy gathered 142 effect sizes, from 42 studies, with a total sample size of 7463 participants. Random effects models were used to analyze the data. Our findings suggested that psychopathic traits are associated with impaired ToM task performance. This relationship was not moderated by age, population, psychopathy measurement (self-report versus clinical checklist) or conceptualization, or ToM task type (cognitive versus affective). The effect also remained significant after excluding tasks that did not require the participant to 1) mentalize or 2) differentiate self and other perspectives. However, interpersonal/affective traits were associated with a more pronounced impairment in ToM task performance compared to lifestyle/antisocial traits. Future research should investigate the effects of distinct psychopathy facets that will allow for a more precise understanding of the social-cognitive bases of relevant clinical presentations in psychopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaorong Song
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew Jones
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Rhiannon Corcoran
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Natasha Daly
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Ahmad Abu-Akel
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Steven M Gillespie
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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14
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Winters DE, Sakai JT. Affective theory of mind impairments underlying callous-unemotional traits and the role of cognitive control. Cogn Emot 2023; 37:696-713. [PMID: 37017241 PMCID: PMC10330116 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2023.2195154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Affective theory of mind (aToM) impairments associated with the youth antisocial phenotype callous-unemotional (CU) traits predict antisocial behaviour above CU traits alone. Importantly, CU traits associate with decrements in complex but not basic aToM. aToM is modulated by cognitive control and CU traits associate with cognitive control impairments; thus, cognitive control is a plausible mechanism underlying aToM impairments in CU traits. Because cognitive control is dependent on the availability of cognitive resources, youth with CU traits may have difficulty with allocating cognitive resources under greater demands that impact complex aToM. To test this, 81 participants (ages 12-14, Female = 51.8%, Male = 48.2%) were recruited to complete a behavioural paradigm that involved an initial aToM task with complex and basic emotions followed by placing additional demands on cognitive control and a final repeat of the same aToM task. Results indicate adolescents higher in CU traits had intact basic aToM but less accuracy in complex aToM that worsened after taxing cognitive control; and this load only required a short duration to account for ToM decrements (200 ms [range 150-1600 ms]). These results demonstrate CU traits association with cognitive control limitations that impact complex aToM. This may partially explain antisocial behaviour associated with CU traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew E Winters
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Joseph T Sakai
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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15
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Montandon ML, Rodriguez C, Herrmann FR, Eytan A, Pegna AJ, Haller S, Giannakopoulos P. Patterns of multiple brain network activation in dot perspective task. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6793. [PMID: 37100844 PMCID: PMC10133244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33427-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In this functional MRI (fMRI) study on 82 healthy adults using the dot perspective task, inconsistency of perspectives was associated with a significant increase of the mean reaction time and number of errors both in Self and Other conditions. Unlike the Arrow (non-mentalizing), the Avatar (mentalizing) paradigm was characterized by the recruitment of parts of the mentalizing and salience networks. These data provide experimental evidence supporting the fMRI distinction between mentalizing and non-mentalizing stimuli. A widespread activation of classical theory of mind (ToM) areas but also of salience network and decision making areas was observed in the Other compared to Self-conditions. Compared to Self-Consistent, Self-Inconsistent trials were related to increased activation in the lateral occipital cortex, right supramarginal and angular gyrus as well as inferior, superior and middle frontal gyri. Compared to the Other-Consistent, Other-Inconsistent trials yielded strong activation in the lateral occipital cortex, precuneus and superior parietal lobule, middle and superior precentral gyri and left frontal pole. These findings reveal that altercentric interference relies on areas involved in self-other distinction, self-updating and central executive functions. In contrast, egocentric interference needs the activation of the mirror neuron system and deductive reasoning, much less related to pure ToM abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louise Montandon
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Cristelle Rodriguez
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François R Herrmann
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ariel Eytan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alan J Pegna
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sven Haller
- CIMC - Centre d'Imagerie Médicale de Cornavin, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Panteleimon Giannakopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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16
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Chester SC, Ogawa T, Terao M, Nakai R, Abe N, De Brito SA. Cortical and subcortical grey matter correlates of psychopathic traits in a Japanese community sample of young adults: sex and configurations of factors' level matter! Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:5043-5054. [PMID: 36300595 PMCID: PMC10151884 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
While neuroimaging research has examined the structural brain correlates of psychopathy predominantly in clinical/forensic male samples from western countries, much less is known about those correlates in non-western community samples. Here, structural magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using voxel- and surface-based morphometry to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of psychopathic traits in a mixed-sex sample of 97 well-functioning Japanese adults (45 males, 21-39 years; M = 27, SD = 5.3). Psychopathic traits were assessed using the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (SRP-SF; 4th Edition). Multiple regression analysis showed greater Factor 1 scores were associated with higher gyrification in the lingual gyrus, and gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala/hippocampus border. Total psychopathy and Factor 1 scores interacted with sex to, respectively, predict cortical thickness in the precuneus and gyrification in the superior temporal gyrus. Finally, Factor 1 and Factor 2 traits interacted to predict gyrification in the posterior cingulate cortex. These preliminary data suggest that, while there may be commonalities in the loci of structural brain correlates of psychopathic traits in clinical/forensic and community samples, the nature of that association might be different (i.e. positive) and may vary according to sex and configurations of factors' level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally C Chester
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tatsuyoshi Ogawa
- Division of Transdisciplinary Sciences, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Nomi, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Maki Terao
- Institute for the Future of Human Society, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Nakai
- Institute for the Future of Human Society, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nobuhito Abe
- Institute for the Future of Human Society, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Stephane A De Brito
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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17
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De Wit-De Visser B, Rijckmans M, Vermunt JK, van Dam A. Pathways to antisocial behavior: a framework to improve diagnostics and tailor therapeutic interventions. Front Psychol 2023; 14:993090. [PMID: 36844347 PMCID: PMC9947159 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.993090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), and antisocial behavior (ASB) in general, is associated with significant impact on individuals themselves, their environment, and society. Although various interventions show promising results, no evidence-based treatments are available for individuals with ASPD. Therefore, making informed choices about which treatment can be applied to an individual patient is complicated. Furthermore, contradictory findings on therapy effectiveness and underlying factors of ASB, such as cognitive impairments and personality traits, fuel the debate whether the conceptualization of ASPD in the DSM-5 is accurate and whether this population can be seen as homogeneous. A conceptual framework, based on the reciprocal altruism theory, is presented in which we propose different pathways to ASB. These pathways suggest underlying dynamics of ASB and provide an explanation for previous contradictory research outcomes. This framework is intended to serve as a clinically relevant model that provides directions for improving diagnostics and matching treatments to underlying dynamics in the antisocial population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda De Wit-De Visser
- GGZ WNB, Research and Innovation, Halsteren, Netherlands
- Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welfare, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Madeleine Rijckmans
- Fivoor, Fivoor Science and Treatment Innovation, Poortugaal, Netherlands
- Clinical and Forensic Psychology, Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen K. Vermunt
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Arno van Dam
- GGZ WNB, Research and Innovation, Halsteren, Netherlands
- Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welfare, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
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18
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Winters DE, Hyde LW. Associated functional network connectivity between callous-unemotionality and cognitive and affective empathy. J Affect Disord 2022; 318:304-313. [PMID: 36063973 PMCID: PMC10039983 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.08.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low empathy is one component of affective impairments defining the antisocial youth phenotype callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Research suggests CU traits may be negatively associated with neural networks that are positively associated with cognitive and affective empathy - specifically the default mode (DMN), frontoparietal (FPN), and salience (SAL) networks. Determining which functional network connections are shared between CU traits and empathy could elucidate the extent to which CU traits shares neural substrates with cognitive versus affective empathy. The present study tested whether CU traits and both cognitive and affective empathy share network connections within and between the DMN, FPN, and SAL. METHODS Participants (n = 112, aged 13-17, 43 % female) completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and self-reports for CU traits and empathy as part of a Nathan-Kline Institute study. RESULTS Analyses revealed inverse associations with shared network connections between CU traits and both cognitive and affective empathy. Specifically, within-DMN connectivity negatively associated with CU traits, but positively associated with cognitive empathy; and between DMN-SAL connectivity positively associated with CU traits, but negatively associated with both cognitive and affective empathy. However, joint models revealed little variance explained by CU traits and empathy overlapped. LIMITATIONS The sample was cross-sectional collection with limited participants (n = 112) from the community that may not generalize to incarcerated adolescents. CONCLUSIONS Results demonstrate CU traits inversely associated with similar connectivity patterns as cognitive and affective empathy though prediction among constructs did not significantly overlap. Further investigation of these connections can inform a mechanistic understanding of empathy impairments in CU traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew E Winters
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America.
| | - Luke W Hyde
- Department of Psychology and Survey Research Center at the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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19
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Psychopathic Traits, Treatment Engagement, and Their Interrelation in Criminal Justice-Involved Boys: A Cross-Sectional Network Analysis. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022; 50:1589-1604. [DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00974-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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20
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Griem J, Kolla NJ, Tully J. Key challenges in neurocognitive assessment of individuals with antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1007121. [PMID: 36119943 PMCID: PMC9478175 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1007121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Griem
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Julia Griem
| | - Nathan J. Kolla
- Department for Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Research and Academics, Division, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
| | - John Tully
- Academic Unit of Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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21
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Flórez G, Ferrer V, García L, Crespo M, Pérez M, Saiz P. The Influence of Psychopathy on Incarcerated Inmates’ Cognitive Empathy. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12081003. [PMID: 36009066 PMCID: PMC9405578 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: there is an ongoing debate about whether psychopathic traits increase or decrease cognitive empathy/Theory of Mind. (2) Methods: using a representative sample of 204 Spanish convicted inmates incarcerated at the Pereiro de Aguiar Penitentiary in Ourense, Spain, we investigated the relationship between two tools for the assessment of psychopathy, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP), and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), a well-known measure of cognitive empathy. (3) Results: The results showed no clear connection between the scores on the psychopathy assessment tools and RMET performance. This lack of association was stronger when the age variable was included in the multivariate analysis. (4) Conclusions: the results of this study failed to detect any clear link between psychopathy and cognitive empathy performance. Accordingly, our results indicate that psychopathy neither improves nor worsens cognitive empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Flórez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 33011 Oviedo, Spain;
- Health Department, Pereiro de Aguiar Prison, 32792 Ourense, Spain; (V.F.); (L.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-650961659
| | - Ventura Ferrer
- Health Department, Pereiro de Aguiar Prison, 32792 Ourense, Spain; (V.F.); (L.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Luis García
- Health Department, Pereiro de Aguiar Prison, 32792 Ourense, Spain; (V.F.); (L.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
| | - María Crespo
- Health Department, Pereiro de Aguiar Prison, 32792 Ourense, Spain; (V.F.); (L.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Manuel Pérez
- Health Department, Pereiro de Aguiar Prison, 32792 Ourense, Spain; (V.F.); (L.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Pilar Saiz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 33011 Oviedo, Spain;
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
- Mental Health Services of Principado de Asturias (SESPA), 33001 Oviedo, Spain
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22
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Rodriguez C, Montandon ML, Herrmann FR, Pegna AJ, Giannakopoulos P. Cognitive and Emotional Determinants of Automatic Perspective Taking in Healthy Adults. Front Psychol 2022; 13:883929. [PMID: 35586238 PMCID: PMC9108454 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.883929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies using the dot-perspective task postulated that people automatically take into account others' perspective even when it prevents them from achieving their own goals. This human ability may be of key importance for the ascription of mental states and social interactions. The cognitive and emotional determinants of automatic perspective taking (APT) is still matter of debate. To address this issue, we examined the performance in the Samson et al. APT task in 91 healthy adults who underwent a detailed neuropsychological testing including assessment of their general intelligence (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, WAIS), attention and impulsivity (Conners' Continuous Performance Test-II, CPT-II), alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS), and measures of affective empathy and explicit theory of mind (Geneva Social Cognition Scale, GeSoCS, and mini-Social cognition and Emotional Assessment, mini-SEA). Univariate and multiple linear regression models (adjusted for age, gender, and education) were used to explore the association between mean reaction times (respectively, mean number of errors) in the APT task, and the CPT-II parameters, WAIS global score (as well as subscale scores), TAS, and GeSoCS and mini-SEA scores. Only the CPT-II parameters were significantly associated with the mean reaction times. Increased omissions, commissions, and detectability as well as hit reaction time standard error in CPT-II were all related to worse performances both in Self and Other conditions. The mean number of errors was negatively associated with the GeSoCS score. Among the variables studied, only CPT-II parameters had a significant impact on egocentric and altercentric interference. Neither global intelligence nor alexithymia have an effect on dot-perspective task performance. The present findings suggest that people with lower attentional resources and increased impulsivity display worse performances in the APT task and are less responsive to both egocentric and altercentric interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristelle Rodriguez
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Louise Montandon
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François R. Herrmann
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alan J. Pegna
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Panteleimon Giannakopoulos
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Panteleimon Giannakopoulos
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23
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Mendez MF. THE IMPLICATIONS OF FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA FOR BRAIN DYSFUNCTION IN PSYCHOPATHY. Biol Psychol 2022; 171:108342. [PMID: 35487297 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how psychopathy compares with brain disease can help clarify its underlying mechanisms. This literature review is a broad overview of the neurobiology of psychopathic traits in comparison to behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), a disorder uniquely associated with criminal behavior. In addition to violation of social norms, both psychopathy and bvFTD result in impaired socioemotional perception and empathy, impulsivity, and altered moral judgment. Despite wide areas of decreased function in psychopathy, structural changes are primarily evident in amygdala and, to a lesser extent, anterior insula, whereas in bvFTD neuropathology involves a wider paralimbic region. In psychopathy, relatively intact medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices facilitate theory of mind and psychopathic traits such as deceitfulness and manipulation, bold fearlessness, and risk-taking behavior. In conclusion, many frontotemporal areas are hypoactive in psychopathy and bvFTD, but differences in dysfunctional connectivity in psychopathy vs. direct involvement in bvFTD potentially explain similarities and differences between these two conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario F Mendez
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA); Neurology Service, Neurobehavior Unit, V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.
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24
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Baskin-Sommers A, Brazil IA. The importance of an exaggerated attention bottleneck for understanding psychopathy. Trends Cogn Sci 2022; 26:325-336. [PMID: 35120814 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The psychopath has long captured the imagination. A name such as Ted Bundy evokes a morbid curiosity. The crimes committed by Bundy are so cruel that it is hard to imagine how someone could do such things. In this review we discuss evidence that exaggeration in an attention bottleneck is one mechanism that makes it possible for psychopathic individuals to be adept at focusing on a single stimulus feature or goal but struggle to process multiple streams of information simultaneously. This exaggeration may partly explain the behavioral, affective, and social deficits that are apparent among psychopathic individuals. Further research on this attentional mechanism may promote a science that adequately captures the complexity of psychopathic behavior and offers new avenues for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Inti A Brazil
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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25
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Strikwerda-Brown C, Ahmed RM, Piguet O, Irish M. Try to see it my way - Examining the relationship between visual perspective taking and theory of mind in frontotemporal dementia. Brain Cogn 2022; 157:105835. [PMID: 35007869 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2021.105835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is characterised by pronounced alterations in social functioning, including the understanding of others' thoughts and feelings via theory of mind. The emergence of such impairments in other social disorders such as autism and schizophrenia is suggested to reflect an inability to imagine the other person's visual perspective of the world. To our knowledge, relationships between visual perspective taking and theory of mind have not previously been explored in bvFTD. Here, we sought to examine the capacity for visual perspective taking and theory of mind in bvFTD, and to establish their inter-relationships and underlying neural correlates. Fifteen bvFTD patients and 15 healthy Controls completed a comprehensive battery of perspective taking measures, comprising Level 1 ('what') and Level 2 ('how') visual perspective taking tasks, a cartoon task capturing theory of mind, and a questionnaire assessing subjective perspective taking in daily life. Compared with Controls, bvFTD patients displayed significant impairments across all perspective taking measures. These perspective taking impairments, however, were not correlated with one another in bvFTD. Region-of-interest voxel-based morphometry analyses suggested distinct neural correlates for visual perspective taking (inferior frontal gyrus) versus theory of mind (medial prefrontal cortex, precuneus), which appeared to partially overlap with those implicated in subjective perspective taking (inferior frontal gyrus, precuneus, temporoparietal junction). Despite pervasive impairments in all aspects of perspective taking in bvFTD, these did not appear to relate to one another at the behavioural or neural level in our study. Future large-scale studies manipulating discrete aspects of the tasks will help to clarify the neurocognitive mechanisms of, and relationships between, visual perspective taking and theory of mind in bvFTD, along with their real-world implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie Strikwerda-Brown
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Australia; The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Australia
| | - Rebekah M Ahmed
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Australia; The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Australia; The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Australia
| | - Muireann Irish
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Australia; The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Australia.
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Hauser NC, Neumann CS, Marshall J, Mokros A. Rational, emotional, or both? Subcomponents of psychopathy predict opposing moral decisions. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2021; 39:541-566. [PMID: 34672023 PMCID: PMC9298150 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent research has documented a small but significant correlation between psychopathic capacities and utilitarian moral judgment, although the findings are generally inconsistent and unclear. We propose that one way to make sense of mixed findings is to consider variation in perspective-taking capacities of psychopathic individuals. With this in mind, we had criminal offenders (n = 60), who varied in their psychopathy levels according to the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), respond to common sacrificial moral dilemmas (e.g., trolley dilemmas) under different conditions. In a baseline condition, participants simply responded to the sacrificial moral dilemmas as is typically done in previous research. In an "emotion-salient" condition, participants had to reason about the emotions of another person after solving moral dilemmas (deliberative processing). In the "emotion-ambiguous" condition, participants saw images of people in distress, after solving moral dilemmas, but did not have to explicitly reason about such emotions (spontaneous processing). The four PCL-R facets predicted distinct interference effects depending on spontaneous versus deliberative processing of hypothetical victim's emotions. The findings suggest that the use of a multi-faceted approach to account for cognitive and moral correlates of psychopathy may help address previously mixed results. Implications and future directions for theory and research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Claire Hauser
- Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity Hospital of Psychiatry ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Julia Marshall
- Department of PsychologyBoston CollegeChestnut HillMassachusettsUSA
| | - Andreas Mokros
- Department of PsychologyPersonality and Forensic Psychology and Diagnostics DivisionUniversity of HagenHagenGermany
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Associations of affective and cognitive empathy with depressive symptoms among a sample of Chinese college freshmen. J Affect Disord 2021; 292:652-659. [PMID: 34153836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND College freshmen are at high risk for mental and socioemotional problems after entering a new environment. However, few investigators have evaluated the associations between empathy and depressive symptoms among college freshmen. The present study examined the presence and associations of affective and cognitive empathy with depressive symptoms among college freshmen in China. METHODS In total, 4297 college freshmen completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index as an assessment of empathy and the University Personality Inventory to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms. RESULTS The empathy scores of females were higher than that of males, and approximately 18.4% of freshmen had high-depressive symptoms (HDS). Freshmen with a higher positive component of affective empathy (empathic concern (EC)) experienced fewer HDS. In contrast, freshmen with a higher negative component of affective empathy (personal distress (PD)) and lower cognitive empathy (perspective taking (PT)) experienced more HDS. EC was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, PD was positively related to depressive symptoms, and PT was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Males with a higher degree of PT experienced fewer HDS, while females with a higher degree of PT experienced more HDS. CONCLUSION Affective empathy was positively associated with depressive symptoms, while cognitive empathy was negatively related to depressive symptoms. The association between affective and cognitive empathy with depressive symptoms may add some support to the detection of clinical depressive symptoms. These findings call for the necessity of considering the characteristics of affective and cognitive empathy as a crucial concern in the prevention of depressive symptoms.
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Wang S, Wang X, Chen Y, Xu Q, Cai L, Zhang T. Association between relational trauma and empathy among male offenders in China. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH : CBMH 2021; 31:248-261. [PMID: 34318529 DOI: 10.1002/cbm.2208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Offenders are more likely than the general population to have experienced relationship trauma. They are also more likely to have lower empathy. To date, relationships between historical trauma and later empathic states have not been examined among offenders. AIMS To explore the association between history of trauma in close personal relationships and empathy among offenders. Our research question is: Is such relational trauma associated with self-rated impairments in empathy? METHODS All men with a primary school education and above at a single all-male prison in Jiangsu Province in China were invited to participate. The self-reported Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used to evaluate empathy, and the Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey was to explore interpersonal trauma and classify such experiences. RESULTS Interpersonal trauma was associated with higher personal distress and lower empathic concern among men reporting relational trauma in adulthood, but only higher personal distress when the trauma reported was in childhood. Non-relational trauma was associated with higher empathic concern. Cognitive aspects of empathy varied little between groups. CONCLUSIONS Our findings add to the existing literature by making distinctions between the types of trauma and the age of key experience in its relationship to self-reported empathy. The differences found suggest that it may be helpful to consider planning any trauma-related interventions differently according to the type and age of trauma experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaishai Wang
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Yuxi Chen
- Research Center for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qingsong Xu
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liying Cai
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tianyang Zhang
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Research Center for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Chang SAA, Tillem S, Benson-Williams C, Baskin-Sommers A. Cognitive Empathy in Subtypes of Antisocial Individuals. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:677975. [PMID: 34290630 PMCID: PMC8287099 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.677975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive empathy allows individuals to recognize and infer how others think and feel in social situations and provides a foundation for the formation and maintenance of mutually constructive relationships. It may seem intuitive to assume that individuals who engage in antisocial behavior, who disregard the rights of others, might have problems with cognitive empathy. However, careful examination of the literature suggests that any dysfunction in cognitive empathy associated with antisociality varies by subtype of antisocial individual and is specific to subcomponents of cognitive empathy. In this review, we (1) briefly define subtypes of antisocial individuals ("psychopathic" vs. "antisocial-only"), (2) summarize specific components of cognitive empathy; (3) review existing literature examining cognitive empathy through questionnaires, behavioral tasks, and neuroimaging within different antisocial subtypes; and (4) discuss the limitations of the current research and potential future directions. Individuals in the psychopathic subtype fail to implicitly engage in cognitive empathy, and potentially lack insight into this issue reflected in no self-reported problems with cognitive empathy, but show an ability to engage in cognitive empathy when explicitly required. Individuals in the antisocial-only subtype appear able to engage in cognitive empathy, showing no differences on questionnaire or behavioral tasks that tap explicit cognitive empathy, but may display subtle difficulties accurately inferring (affective theory of mind) the emotions of others. We end the review by noting areas for future research, including the need to: (1) document the patterns of equifinality that exist across levels of analysis for these antisocial subtypes; (2) examine the temporality of empathy and antisociality development; (3) carefully consider and label subcomponents of cognitive empathy in research on antisocial behavior; and (4) investigate the intersection among environmental experiences, cognitive empathy, and antisocial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shou-An A. Chang
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Scott Tillem
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Fei W, Geng Y, Wang S, Ma Q, Peng X, Zhang M, Zhang T. Association between parental control and subclinical depressive symptoms in a sample of college freshmen: Roles of empathy and gender. J Affect Disord 2021; 286:301-308. [PMID: 33756308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND College freshmen are at high-risk for depressive symptoms after experiencing drastic transitions in a new environment. Perceived parental control has proved as a prominent role in an adolescent's mental health. However, the further understandings of the mechanisms underlying the relation between perceived parental control and freshmen's depressive symptoms are urgent. METHODS A total of 4,297 Chinese freshmen (57% female) were recruited. They completed the self-report Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and University Personality Inventory (UPI), which assess parental control, empathy and depressive symptoms, respectively. The data were analysed using correlation analysis and a test of moderated mediation. RESULTS The results showed positive association between parental control and depressive symptoms, partially mediated by empathy. The relation between parental control and affective empathy, was moderated by gender. Specifically, maternal control had a more significant positive effect on males' personal distress. Moreover, the influence of paternal control was also greater for males, with a negative effect on empathic concern and positive on personal distress. CONCLUSIONS Parental control significantly positively predicted college freshmen's depressive symptoms, and empathy played a partially mediating role. In addition, the relations between parental control and affective empathy were moderated by freshmen's gender. The findings of this study provide a better understanding of how parental control is related to freshmen's depressive symptoms, offering a theoretical basis for promoting the development of adolescents' mental health and supporting the design of effective psychological interventions to relieve their depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Fei
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yiran Geng
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shaishai Wang
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qinghua Ma
- The third People's Hospital of Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqin Peng
- Department of Mental Health, High School Attached to Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Research Center for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tianyang Zhang
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Research Center for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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31
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Lanciano T, Curci A. Psychopathic traits and self-conscious emotions: What is the role of perspective taking ability? CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-019-0162-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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The Dynamic Differences between Self- and Other-Oriented Mental Inferences: An ERP Study on a False-Belief Task. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 21:960-969. [PMID: 33907991 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00899-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Theory of mind (ToM) refers to the ability to infer others' mental states. In our everyday lives, we need to interact constantly and appropriately with others. Not only is ToM involved in understanding others' mental states (other-oriented mental inferences), but it also helps to keep our own mental states (self-oriented mental inferences). In this study, we designed a false-belief task using event-related potential (ERP) measures to investigate the dynamic differences between the two types of mental inferences. In the false-belief task, participants were prompted with a cue to attribute a belief to either themselves (self-oriented) or another person (other-oriented). Results showed that other-oriented false-belief attribution elicited a larger late positive component (LPC; 320~440 ms post-cue onset) than the one elicited by self-oriented attribution at bilateral parieto-occipital electrodes, and also a larger late negative component (LNC; 380~500 ms post-cue onset) at frontal-central electrodes. In addition, the difference in amplitude of LPC between the two types of false-belief attribution was positively correlated with self-reported autistic traits measured by the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Based on prior literature, we propose that the LPC and LNC reflect the processes of self-other distinction and conflict control, respectively. Moreover, the difficulty in distinguishing other from the self is related to one's degree of autistic traits.
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Yoder KJ, Harenski C, Kiehl KA, Decety J. Neural responses to morally laden interactions in female inmates with psychopathy. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 30:102645. [PMID: 33838544 PMCID: PMC8045040 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Much of social cognition requires making inferences about the mental and emotional states of others. Moreover, understanding the emotions of others is an important foundation for moral decision-making. Psychopathy is associated with both aberrant emotional understanding and atypical hemodynamic responses when viewing and evaluating morally laden social interactions. In the present functional MRI study, female inmates (N = 107) were asked to evaluate the likely emotional state of either the recipient or the initiator of harmful or helpful interactions. Psychopathy was assessed with the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). PCL-R scores were not associated with differences in confidence or accuracy ratings. However, psychopathy scores were significantly related to increased hemodynamic response in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when viewing harmful interactions and decreased functional connectivity from right amygdala to inferior parietal cortex and insula, and from temporal parietal junction to dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Overall, this work indicates that in females, psychopathy is associated with normal behavioral accuracy and confidence but alterations in neural network activity during moral decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Yoder
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Carla Harenski
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Kent A Kiehl
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jean Decety
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry, and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Kittel AFD, Olderbak S, Wilhelm O. Sty in the Mind's Eye: A Meta-Analytic Investigation of the Nomological Network and Internal Consistency of the "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" Test. Assessment 2021; 29:872-895. [PMID: 33645295 DOI: 10.1177/1073191121996469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) is the most popular adult measure of individual differences in theory of mind. We present a meta-analytic investigation of the test's psychometric properties (k = 119 effect sizes, 61 studies, ntotal = 8,611 persons). Using random effects models, we found the internal consistency of the test was acceptable (α = .73). However, the RMET was more strongly related with emotion perception (r = .33, ρ = .48) relative to alternative theory of mind measures (r = .29, ρ = .39), and weakly to moderately related with vocabulary (r = .25, ρ = .32), cognitive empathy (r = .14, ρ = .20), and affective empathy (r = .13, ρ = .19). Overall, we conclude that the RMET operates rather as emotion perception measure than as theory of mind measure, challenging the interpretation of RMET results.
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Blekić W, Kandana Arachchige K, Wauthia E, Simoes Loureiro I, Lefebvre L, Rossignol M. Affective Ratings of Pictures Related to Interpersonal Situations. Front Psychol 2021; 12:627849. [PMID: 33613402 PMCID: PMC7892450 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.627849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies require standardized and replicable protocols composed of emotional stimuli. To this aim, several databases of emotional pictures are available. However, there are only few images directly depicting interpersonal violence, which is a specific emotion evocative stimulus for research on aggressive behavior or post-traumatic stress disorder. The objective of the current study is to provide a new set of standardized stimuli containing images depicting interpersonal situations (both positive and negative). This will allow a sensitive assessment of a wide range of cognitions linked to social interaction (empathy, perspective taking, traumatic experiences, etc.). To this aim, 240 participants rated the valence and arousal of 79 pictures collected from online sources in 2018. Results showed (1) a distinctive pattern of valence and arousal regarding the picture content and (2) specific associations between those two dimensions. Taken together, these results suggest a good reliability of the selected images. In conclusion, our study provides an open access set of recent pictures depicting interpersonal situations along with normative valence and arousal ratings, that are available for download from: https://osf.io/ak4m7/?view_only=None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wivine Blekić
- Department of Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | | | - Erika Wauthia
- Department of Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | | | - Laurent Lefebvre
- Department of Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Mandy Rossignol
- Department of Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
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Weiss B, Jahn A, Hyatt CS, Owens MM, Carter NT, Sweet LH, Miller JD, Haas BW. Investigating the neural substrates of Antagonistic Externalizing and social-cognitive Theory of Mind: an fMRI examination of functional activity and synchrony. PERSONALITY NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 4:e1. [PMID: 33954274 PMCID: PMC8057509 DOI: 10.1017/pen.2020.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recently developed quantitative models of psychopathology (i.e., Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology) identify an Antagonistic Externalizing spectrum that captures the psychological disposition toward criminal and antisocial behavior. The purpose of the present study was to examine relations between Antagonistic psychopathology (and associated Five-Factor model Antagonism/Agreeableness) and neural functioning related to social-cognitive Theory of Mind using a large sample (N = 973) collected as part of the Human Connectome Project (Van Essen et al., 2013a). No meaningful relations between Antagonism/Antagonistic Externalizing and Theory of Mind-related neural activity or synchrony were observed (p < .005). We conclude by outlining methodological considerations (e.g., validity of social cognition task and low test-retest reliability of functional biomarkers) that may account for these null results, and present recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Weiss
- University of Georgia Franklin, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Athens, Georgia
| | - Andrew Jahn
- University of Michigan, fMRI Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Courtland S. Hyatt
- University of Georgia Franklin, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Athens, Georgia
| | | | - Nathan T. Carter
- University of Georgia Franklin, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Athens, Georgia
| | - Lawrence H. Sweet
- University of Georgia Franklin, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Athens, Georgia
| | - Joshua D. Miller
- University of Georgia Franklin, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Athens, Georgia
| | - Brian W. Haas
- University of Georgia Franklin, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Athens, Georgia
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Exploring neurophysiological markers of visual perspective taking: Methodological considerations. Int J Psychophysiol 2021; 161:1-12. [PMID: 33388368 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE For visual perspective taking (VPT) using the avatar task, examinations of neural processes using event related potentials (ERP) indicate a distinction between an early posterior perspective calculation process (P3) and a later frontal process (LFSW) managing perspective conflict. While it is unknown if these neural processes are affected in clinical populations, it is unclear if the avatar task can be applied to this group, due to the long duration and sensitivity to data loss. Thus, we performed a methodological study of the avatar task, testing the feasibility of a shortened experimental paradigm. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether previously reported behavioural and ERP effects in the avatar task can also be seen if analysing all trials (matching/non-matching) jointly, and whether they remain robust if only a subset of the data is analysed. METHOD Healthy individuals (n = 20) completed the avatar task with ERP measurement. ERP components (P3, LFSW) and behavioural data were investigated by A) comparing use of only matching trials (n = 384) versus all trials (n = 768), and B) examining if reduced duration of assessment, by analysing only a subset of the data, impacts ERP findings. RESULTS We observed minimal differences when analysing data from only matching trial types compared to all trial types. Further, ERP amplitudes and latency findings were replicated when analysing only a subset of the data. CONCLUSIONS The duration of the avatar task can be reduced to avoid long testing times, thus making it better suited for use in clinical populations.
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Fan C, Susilo T, Low J. Consistency effect in Level-1 visual perspective-taking and cue-validity effect in attentional orienting: Distinguishing the mentalising account from the submentalising account. VISUAL COGNITION 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/13506285.2020.1857488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cong Fan
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Tirta Susilo
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Jason Low
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Deming P, Dargis M, Haas BW, Brook M, Decety J, Harenski C, Kiehl KA, Koenigs M, Kosson DS. Psychopathy is associated with fear-specific reductions in neural activity during affective perspective-taking. Neuroimage 2020; 223:117342. [PMID: 32898678 PMCID: PMC9831240 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychopathic individuals are notorious for their callous disregard for others' emotions. Prior research has linked psychopathy to deficits in affective mechanisms underlying empathy (e.g., affective sharing), yet research relating psychopathy to cognitive mechanisms underlying empathy (e.g., affective perspective-taking and Theory of Mind) requires further clarification. To elucidate the neurobiology of cognitive mechanisms of empathy in psychopathy, we administered an fMRI task and tested for global as well as emotion-specific deficits in affective perspective-taking. Adult male incarcerated offenders (N = 94) viewed images of two people interacting, with one individual's face obscured by a shape. Participants were cued to either identify the emotion of the obscured individual or identify the shape from one of two emotion or shape choices presented on each trial. Target emotions included anger, fear, happiness, sadness, and neutral. Contrary to predictions, psychopathy was unrelated to neural activity in the Affective Perspective-taking > Shape contrast. In line with predictions, psychopathy was negatively related to task accuracy during affective perspective-taking for fear, happiness, and sadness. Psychopathy was related to reduced hemodynamic activity exclusively during fear perspective-taking in several areas: left anterior insula extending into posterior orbitofrontal cortex, right precuneus, left superior parietal lobule, and left superior occipital cortex. Although much prior research has emphasized psychopathy-related abnormalities in affective mechanisms mediating empathy, current results add to growing evidence of psychopathy-related abnormalities in a cognitive mechanism related to empathy. These findings highlight brain regions that are hypoactive in psychopathy when explicitly processing another's fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Deming
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1202 West Johnson St., Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Blvd., Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Monika Dargis
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1202 West Johnson St., Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Blvd., Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Brian W. Haas
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA, United States
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Georgia, S150 Paul D. Coverdell Center, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Michael Brook
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 420 E Superior St., Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Jean Decety
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, 5848 South University Ave., Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Carla Harenski
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
| | - Kent A. Kiehl
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
| | - Michael Koenigs
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Blvd., Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - David S. Kosson
- Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
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Tremblay MPB, Marcoux A, Turcotte V, Woods J, Rouleau C, Grondin F, Jackson PL. I Can But I Shall Not Always Be Empathic. Psychol Rep 2020; 124:1634-1672. [PMID: 32757717 DOI: 10.1177/0033294120945180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Empathy, a core process for social interactions, is the capacity to understand and share others' mental states and emotions. Each individual is thought to have a maximum level of empathy (empathic ability) and a spontaneous tendency to express it (empathic propensity), which can be affected by multiple factors. Two within-subject studies were conducted to assess the malleability of empathy by modulating contextual factors and measuring their interaction with psychological characteristics. In Study 1, 59 healthy adults evaluated their empathy for people showing facial expressions of pain following different instructions: Passive Observation and Instruction to Actively Empathize. In Study 2, 56 healthy adults performed a similar task under two conditions: Passive Observation and Observation under a Cognitive Load. The results revealed that empathy was significantly increased in the actively empathizing condition (Study 1) and under a cognitive load, but more importantly for men (Study 2). The level of change between the two conditions was associated with self-reported empathy, autistic, alexithymia and psychopathic traits (Study 1), as well as with working memory capacities and the level of empathy reported in the passive observation condition (Study 2). These findings suggest that an instruction to actively empathize and, surprisingly, a cognitive load can both increase empathy, but not for the same individuals. An instruction to actively empathize seems to increase empathy for individuals with good empathic dispositions, while a cognitive load enhances empathy in people for which empathic propensity is sub-optimal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Audrey Marcoux
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche CERVO, Québec, Canada
| | - Valérie Turcotte
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche CERVO, Québec, Canada
| | - Jamie Woods
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Québec, Canada
| | - Camille Rouleau
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche CERVO, Québec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Grondin
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche CERVO, Québec, Canada
| | - Philip L Jackson
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche CERVO, Québec, Canada
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41
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O'Grady C, Scott-Phillips T, Lavelle S, Smith K. Perspective-taking is spontaneous but not automatic. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2020; 73:1605-1628. [PMID: 32718242 PMCID: PMC7551223 DOI: 10.1177/1747021820942479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Data from a range of different experimental paradigms—in particular (but not
only) the dot perspective task—have been interpreted as evidence that humans
automatically track the perspective of other individuals. Results from other
studies, however, have cast doubt on this interpretation, and some researchers
have suggested that phenomena that seem like perspective-taking might instead be
the products of simpler behavioural rules. The issue remains unsettled in
significant part because different schools of thought, with different
theoretical perspectives, implement the experimental tasks in subtly different
ways, making direct comparisons difficult. Here, we explore the possibility that
subtle differences in experimental method explain otherwise irreconcilable
findings in the literature. Across five experiments we show that the classic
result in the dot perspective task is not automatic (it is not purely
stimulus-driven), but nor is it exclusively the product of simple behavioural
rules that do not involve mentalising. Instead, participants do compute the
perspectives of other individuals rapidly, unconsciously, and involuntarily, but
only when attentional systems prompt them to do so (just as, for instance, the
visual system puts external objects into focus only as and when required). This
finding prompts us to clearly distinguish spontaneity from automaticity.
Spontaneous perspective-taking may be a computationally efficient means of
navigating the social world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathleen O'Grady
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Thom Scott-Phillips
- Department of Cognitive Science, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Suilin Lavelle
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kenny Smith
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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42
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Roberts R, McCrory E, Bird G, Sharp M, Roberts L, Viding E. Thinking about Others' Minds: Mental State Inference in Boys with Conduct Problems and Callous-Unemotional Traits. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 48:1279-1290. [PMID: 32632744 PMCID: PMC7445196 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-020-00664-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Children with conduct problems (CP) and high levels of callous-unemotional traits (CP/HCU) have been found to have an intact ability to represent other minds, however, they behave in ways that indicate a reduced propensity to consider other people’s thoughts and feelings. Here we report findings from three tasks assessing different aspects of mentalising in 81 boys aged 11–16 [Typically developing (TD) n = 27; CP/HCU n = 28; CP and low levels of callous-unemotional traits (CP/LCU) n = 26]. Participants completed the Movie Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC), a task assessing ability/propensity to incorporate judgements concerning an individual’s mind into mental state inference; provided a written description of a good friend to assess mind-mindedness; and completed the Social Judgement Task (SJT), a new measure assessing mentalising about antisocial actions. Boys with CP/HCU had more difficulty in accurately inferring others’ mental states in the MASC than TD and CP/LCU boys. There were no group differences in the number of mind-related comments as assessed by the mind-mindedness protocol or in responses to the SJT task. These findings suggest that although the ability to represent mental states is intact, CP/HCU boys are less likely to update mental state inferences as a function of different minds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Roberts
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK.
| | - Eamon McCrory
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Geoffrey Bird
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.,MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Molly Sharp
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Linda Roberts
- University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Essi Viding
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
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43
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Zheltyakova M, Kireev M, Korotkov A, Medvedev S. Neural mechanisms of deception in a social context: an fMRI replication study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10713. [PMID: 32612101 PMCID: PMC7329834 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67721-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Deception is a form of manipulation aimed at misleading another person by conveying false or truthful messages. Manipulative truthful statements could be considered as sophisticated deception and elicit an increased cognitive load. However, only one fMRI study reported its neural correlates. To provide independent evidence for sophisticated deception, we carried out an fMRI study replicating the experimental paradigm and Bayesian statistical approach utilized in that study. During the experiment, participants played a game against an opponent by sending deliberate deceptive or honest messages. Compared to truth-telling, deceptive intentions, regardless of how they were fulfilled, were associated with increased BOLD signals in the bilateral temporoparietal junction (TPJ), left precuneus, and right superior temporal sulcus (STS). The right TPJ participates in the attribution of mental states, acting in a social context, and moral behaviour. Moreover, the other revealed brain areas have been considered nodes in the theory of mind brain neural system. Therefore, the obtained results reflect an increased demand for socio‑cognitive processes associated with deceptive intentions. We replicated the original study showing the involvement of the right TPJ and expanded upon it by revealing the involvement of the left TPJ, left precuneus and right STS in actions with deceptive intentions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Zheltyakova
- N.P. Bechtereva Institute of the Human Brain, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maxim Kireev
- N.P. Bechtereva Institute of the Human Brain, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Alexander Korotkov
- N.P. Bechtereva Institute of the Human Brain, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Svyatoslav Medvedev
- N.P. Bechtereva Institute of the Human Brain, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
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44
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Jurjako M, Malatesti L, Brazil IA. Biocognitive Classification of Antisocial Individuals Without Explanatory Reductionism. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2020; 15:957-972. [PMID: 32502369 DOI: 10.1177/1745691620904160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Effective and specifically targeted social and therapeutic responses for antisocial personality disorders and psychopathy are scarce. Some authors maintain that this scarcity should be overcome by revising current syndrome-based classifications of these conditions and devising better biocognitive classifications of antisocial individuals. The inspiration for the latter classifications has been embedded in the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach. RDoC-type approaches to psychiatric research aim at transforming diagnosis, provide valid measures of disorders, aid clinical practice, and improve health outcomes by integrating the data on the genetic, neural, cognitive, and affective systems underlying psychiatric conditions. In the first part of the article, we discuss the benefits of such approaches compared with the dominant syndrome-based approaches and review recent attempts at building biocognitive classifications of antisocial individuals. Other researchers, however, have objected that biocognitive approaches in psychiatry are committed to an untenable form of explanatory reductionism. Explanatory reductionism is the view that psychological disorders can be exclusively categorized and explained in terms of their biological causes. In the second part of the article, we argue that RDoC-like approaches need not be associated with explanatory reductionism. Moreover, we argue how this is the case for a specific biocognitive approach to classifying antisocial individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Jurjako
- Project Responding to Antisocial Personalities in a Democratic Society (RAD), Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka, University of Rijeka
| | - Luca Malatesti
- Project Responding to Antisocial Personalities in a Democratic Society (RAD), Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka, University of Rijeka
| | - Inti A Brazil
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University.,Forensic Psychiatric Centre Pompestichting, Division Diagnostics Research and Education, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Antwerp
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45
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Groat LL, Shane MS. A Motivational Framework for Psychopathy: Toward a Reconceptualization of the Disorder. EUROPEAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2020. [DOI: 10.1027/1016-9040/a000394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. The link between psychopathy and violence has been well documented. Estimates suggest psychopathic offenders are responsible for as much as 40% of violence-related crime, and that they show rates of violent recidivism up to five times higher than non-psychopathic offenders. Existing theories of the disorder argue that this violence stems from a core insensitivity to emotional/aversive information, or from a core inability to optimally allocate processing resources in complex environments. However, some newer findings have been difficult for existing theories to assimilate; moreover, successful treatment programs based off current conceptualizations have been slow to develop. With this in mind, the current paper proposes a new motivational framework for psychopathy, within which the disorder is conceptualized as stemming from more strategic, motivated processes. The paper begins by reviewing traditional theories of psychopathy and highlighting their explanatory strengths and limitations. The proposed motivational framework is then outlined, and a supportive rationale for the framework provided. Next, the paper undertakes a selective review of some of the most empirically supported features of the disorder, to highlight how these features may be productively reformulated within a motivational framework. Finally, the paper suggests several methods through which an empirical evaluation of the proposed ideas may be undertaken, and explores potential implications of a motivational framework for next-generation rehabilitation and treatment opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay L. Groat
- The University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew S. Shane
- The University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, Canada
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46
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Rowlands A, Fisher M, Mishra J, Nahum M, Brandrett B, Reinke M, Caldwell M, Kiehl KA, Vinogradov S. Cognitive Training for Very High Risk Incarcerated Adolescent Males. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:225. [PMID: 32351409 PMCID: PMC7175987 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Persistent violent and antisocial behavior, as manifested in conduct disorder (CD) traits, are associated with a range of cognitive deficits. Individuals with more severe cognitive deficits are more likely to commit violent crimes. Currently, no treatments target improving cognition in high-risk CD youth. This pilot study tests the feasibility and efficacy of delivering intensive tablet-based cognitive training (CT) to adolescent males incarcerated in a youth maximum-security prison. METHODS Participants were fourteen adolescent males, diagnosed with CD. All participants completed up to 30 h of unsupervised, intensive, adaptive CT exercises that targeted multiple neurocognitive domains, as well as a battery of standardized neurocognitive measures and computerized assessments at baseline and post-training. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE At baseline, participants exhibited significant impairments on neurocognitive measures, relative to age-matched healthy controls. Twelve participants completed training and showed evidence of target engagement, as indexed by improvement in cognitive processing speed. Significant gains were observed in measures of global cognition, with additional gains in cognitive flexibility at trend level significance. Improvements in these measures were positively related to total training time. In summary, both assessments and intervention appear to be feasible, tolerable, and acceptable in incarcerated youth. Intensive CT shows preliminary efficacy in improving neurocognitive performance in key domains, with large effect sizes, and significant performance improvement associations with the time in training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Rowlands
- School of Nursing, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Melissa Fisher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Mor Nahum
- Posit Science Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin Brandrett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Michael Reinke
- Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Michael Caldwell
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kent A Kiehl
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico and Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Sophia Vinogradov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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47
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McAuliffe WHB, Carter EC, Berhane J, Snihur AC, McCullough ME. Is Empathy the Default Response to Suffering? A Meta-Analytic Evaluation of Perspective Taking’s Effect on Empathic Concern. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2019; 24:141-162. [DOI: 10.1177/1088868319887599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
We conducted a series of meta-analytic tests on experiments in which participants read perspective-taking instructions—that is, written instructions to imagine a distressed persons’ point of view (“imagine-self” and “imagine-other” instructions), or to inhibit such actions (“remain-objective” instructions)—and afterwards reported how much empathic concern they experienced upon learning about the distressed person. If people spontaneously empathize with others, then participants who receive remain-objective instructions should report less empathic concern than do participants in a “no-instructions” control condition; if people can deliberately increase how much empathic concern they experience, then imagine-self and imagine-other instructions should increase empathic concern relative to not receiving any instructions. Random-effects models revealed that remain-objective instructions reduced empathic concern, but “imagine” instructions did not significantly increase it. The results were robust to most corrections for bias. Our conclusions were not qualified by the study characteristics we examined, but most relevant moderators have not yet been thoroughly studied.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juliana Berhane
- University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
- Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, USA
| | - Alexander C. Snihur
- University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
- Florida International University, Miami, USA
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48
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Kronbichler L, Stelzig-Schöler R, Pearce BG, Tschernegg M, Said-Yürekli S, Crone JS, Uscatescu LC, Reich LA, Weber S, Aichhorn W, Perner J, Kronbichler M. Reduced spontaneous perspective taking in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2019; 292:5-12. [PMID: 31472416 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2019.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Judgments about another person's visual perspective are impaired when the self-perspective is inconsistent with the other-perspective. This is a robust finding in healthy samples as well as in schizophrenia (SZ). Studies show evidence for the existence of a reverse effect, where an inconsistent other-perspective impairs the self-perspective. Such spontaneous perspective taking processes are not yet explored in SZ. In the current fMRI experiment, 24 healthy and 24 schizophrenic participants performed a visual perspective taking task in the scanner. Either a social or a non-social stimulus was presented and their visual perspectives were consistent or inconsistent with the self-perspective of the participant. We replicated previous findings showing that healthy participants show increased reaction times when the human avatar's perspective is inconsistent to the self-perspective. Patients with SZ, however, did not show this effect, neither in the social nor in the non-social condition. BOLD responses revealed similar patterns in occipital areas and group differences were identified in the middle occipital gyrus. These findings suggest that patients with SZ are less likely to spontaneously compute the visual perspectives of others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Kronbichler
- Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler Medical Centre, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer Straße 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Renate Stelzig-Schöler
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, Christian-Doppler Medical Centre, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer Straße 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Brandy-Gale Pearce
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, Christian-Doppler Medical Centre, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer Straße 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Melanie Tschernegg
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sarah Said-Yürekli
- Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler Medical Centre, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer Straße 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Julia Sophia Crone
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, 502 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lavinia-Carmen Uscatescu
- Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler Medical Centre, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer Straße 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Luise Antonia Reich
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Weber
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, Christian-Doppler Medical Centre, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer Straße 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Aichhorn
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, Christian-Doppler Medical Centre, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer Straße 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Josef Perner
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Martin Kronbichler
- Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler Medical Centre, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer Straße 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
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49
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Psederska E, Savov S, Atanassov N, Vassileva J. Relationships Between Alexithymia and Psychopathy in Heroin Dependent Individuals. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2269. [PMID: 31649591 PMCID: PMC6794427 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychopathy and substance use disorders are highly co-morbid and their co-occurrence is associated with higher severity of addictive behavior and increased risk of violent offending. Both substance use disorders and psychopathy are related to prominent impairments in emotion processing, which are also central features of alexithymia. The nature of the relationship between psychopathy and alexithymia is not well-understood and has been particularly understudied among substance dependent individuals. AIM Our goal was to evaluate the levels of psychopathy and alexithymia in a relatively homogeneous sample of heroin dependent individuals (HDIs) and healthy controls and to examine group differences in the pattern of associations between these constructs. METHODS We examined 62 participants (31 heroin dependent individuals and 31 healthy controls) with the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening version (PCL:SV, Hart et al., 1995) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20, Bagby et al., 1994). RESULTS Heroin dependent individuals were characterized by higher levels of both psychopathy and alexithymia as compared to the control group. In addition, HDIs with higher levels of psychopathy reported more difficulties in identifying and verbalizing emotional states. In the heroin group, alexithymia was more strongly associated with the impulsive/antisocial characteristics (impulsivity, irresponsibility, antisocial behavior) than with the interpersonal/affective features of psychopathy (grandiosity, manipulativeness, lack of empathy, and remorse). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that alexithymia may be one potential mechanism linking psychopathy with opioid use disorders. The development of interventions targeting alexithymia could have significant applications in relapse prevention programs and psychotherapy of substance use disorders with concurrent psychopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Psederska
- Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Addictions Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Svetoslav Savov
- Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Nikola Atanassov
- Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Jasmin Vassileva
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
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50
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Shaw E. Counterproductive criminal rehabilitation: Dealing with the double-edged sword of moral bioenhancement via cognitive enhancement. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY 2019; 65:101378. [PMID: 30206004 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
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