Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Thomas Edman

Abstract

Compromised social cognition, psychosis, and antisocial traits are associated with violence in individuals with schizophrenia. Facial emotional perception (FEP) has been used to measure social cognition in schizophrenia, but its relationships to psychosis, antisocial behavior, and violence have not been explored. Archival data from a sample of 38 participants ages 18-55 with schizophrenia were analyzed in a quasi-experimental design using a 2-way analysis of variance to determine the relationship of psychosis, antisocial traits, and FEP. The main factors of the analysis were psychosis, classified as either high or low, and antisocial traits, classified as high or low. The dependent variable was FEP. Additionally, logistic regression was used to determine if the recent violent behavior was related to FEP, psychosis, and antisocial traits. Results showed significant main effects for psychosis and antisocial traits and interaction between psychotic state and antisocial traits. Logistic regression identified antisocial traits as a predictor of violence. The results are consistent with previous studies showing that a deficit in social cognition is a risk factor in violence. This study shows that antisocial traits are a predictor of a recent history of violence. These findings are consistent with the theory of the mind, perceptual organization theory, and integrative emotional system theory and provide additional information about how social cognition is manifested in some adults with schizophrenia. The study contributes to positive social change by providing a basis for treatment options with schizophrenia which distinguish social cognition, psychosis and antisocial behavior and violence.

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