The "zipper model of empathy" applied to violence in schizophrenia: A search for social cognitive underpinnings of lack of empathic behavior.
Antisociality
Emotion processing
Facial affect perception
Psychopathy
Theory of mind
Journal
Comprehensive psychiatry
ISSN: 1532-8384
Titre abrégé: Compr Psychiatry
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0372612
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jul 2023
Jul 2023
Historique:
received:
22
12
2022
revised:
24
04
2023
accepted:
02
05
2023
medline:
19
6
2023
pubmed:
9
5
2023
entrez:
8
5
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The "zipper model of empathy" has been proposed for psychopathy. It postulates that empathic behavior may fail to arise due to impaired facial emotion recognition. In this study, we examined if the model may be of relevance for schizophrenia. In a sample of participants with schizophrenia and a history of severe interpersonal violence, associations between measures of social cognition (emotion recognition, theory of mind) and aspects of psychopathy (lack of empathy, lack of remorse) were investigated. A non-violent sample experiencing schizophrenia served as a control group. Correlation analyses revealed a specific and statistically significant association between facial emotion recognition and lack of empathy in the violent sample. Follow-up analyses identified that neutral emotions were of particular importance. Logistic regression analyses confirmed that impairments in facial emotion recognition predicted levels of empathy in the violent sample experiencing schizophrenia. Our results suggest that the "zipper model of empathy" may be relevant for schizophrenia. The findings further point to the potential benefit of including social cognitive training in the treatment of persons with schizophrenia and a history of interpersonal aggression.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The "zipper model of empathy" has been proposed for psychopathy. It postulates that empathic behavior may fail to arise due to impaired facial emotion recognition. In this study, we examined if the model may be of relevance for schizophrenia.
METHODS
METHODS
In a sample of participants with schizophrenia and a history of severe interpersonal violence, associations between measures of social cognition (emotion recognition, theory of mind) and aspects of psychopathy (lack of empathy, lack of remorse) were investigated. A non-violent sample experiencing schizophrenia served as a control group.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Correlation analyses revealed a specific and statistically significant association between facial emotion recognition and lack of empathy in the violent sample. Follow-up analyses identified that neutral emotions were of particular importance. Logistic regression analyses confirmed that impairments in facial emotion recognition predicted levels of empathy in the violent sample experiencing schizophrenia.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the "zipper model of empathy" may be relevant for schizophrenia. The findings further point to the potential benefit of including social cognitive training in the treatment of persons with schizophrenia and a history of interpersonal aggression.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37156206
pii: S0010-440X(23)00028-7
doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152391
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
152391Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. Vaskinn received consulting fees from VeraSci Inc. None of the other authors report any conflict of interest.