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Psychosocial Functioning in Schizotypy: Potential Links to Social, Cognitive, and Affective Processes

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A Dimensional Approach to Schizotypy

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Abstract

Social functioning deficits are a core feature of people high in schizotypy, a group at heightened risk for psychotic and other psychopathological disorders. A key unanswered question across these populations centers on the mechanisms that help explain deficits in social functioning. In this chapter, we focus on four potential explanations to explain the social functioning deficits found in people high in schizotypy. These explanations come from social, cognitive, and affective literatures and relate to impairments in multiple processes, including 1) social skills deficits, 2) cognitive functioning deficits, 3) anticipated pleasure deficits, and 4) emotion regulation deficits. Each of these areas offers a compelling rationale for helping us understand the social functioning deficits observed in those high in schizotypy. Although these explanations are not mutually exclusive, we focus on each individually before discussing how findings across these areas could be integrated to help us understand and treat social functioning deficits. Throughout this chapter, we also discuss the importance of accounting for how schizotypy and social functioning are assessed when interpreting findings. This chapter’s central goal is to increase understanding of how and why social functioning deficits occur in schizotypy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Kyle S. Minor, Jessica L. Mickens, Madisen T. Russell, Sophia C. Koesterer, Ceouna M. Hegwood & Danielle B. Abel

  2. IUPUI School of Science, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Kyle S. Minor

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  1. Kyle S. Minor
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  2. Jessica L. Mickens
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  3. Madisen T. Russell
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  4. Sophia C. Koesterer
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  6. Danielle B. Abel
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Correspondence to Kyle S. Minor .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, Rome, Italy

    Simone Cheli

  2. Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Paul H. Lysaker

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Minor, K.S., Mickens, J.L., Russell, M.T., Koesterer, S.C., Hegwood, C.M., Abel, D.B. (2023). Psychosocial Functioning in Schizotypy: Potential Links to Social, Cognitive, and Affective Processes. In: Cheli, S., Lysaker, P.H. (eds) A Dimensional Approach to Schizotypy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41788-7_4

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