TY - JOUR
T1 - You ≠ Me: Individual differences in the structure of social cognition
AU - Shaw, D.J
AU - Czekoova, K
AU - Pennington, C.R
AU - Qureshi, Adam
AU - Spilakova, B
AU - Salazar, M
AU - Brazdil, M
AU - Urbanek, T
PY - 2018/10/15
Y1 - 2018/10/15
N2 - This study investigated the structure of social cognition, and how it is influenced by
personality; specifically, how various socio-cognitive capabilities, and the pattern of
inter-relationships and co-dependencies among them differ between divergent
personality styles. To measure social cognition, a large non-clinical sample (n = 290)
undertook an extensive battery of self-report and performance-based measures of
visual perspective taking, imitative tendencies, affective empathy, interoceptive
accuracy, emotion regulation, and state affectivity. These same individuals then
completed the Personality Styles and Disorders Inventory. Latent profile analysis
revealed two dissociable personality profiles that exhibited contrasting cognitive and
affective dispositions, and multivariate analyses indicated further that these profiles
differed on measures of social cognition; individuals characterised by a flexible and
adaptive personality profile expressed higher action orientation (emotion regulation)
compared to those showing more inflexible tendencies, along with better visual
perspective taking, superior interoceptive accuracy, less imitative tendencies, and
lower personal distress and negativity. These characteristics point towards more
efficient self-other distinction, and to higher cognitive control more generally. Moreover,
low-level cognitive mechanisms served to mediate other higher-level socio-emotional
capabilities. Together, these findings elucidate the cognitive and affective
underpinnings of individual differences in social behaviour, providing a data-driven
model that should guide future research in this area.
AB - This study investigated the structure of social cognition, and how it is influenced by
personality; specifically, how various socio-cognitive capabilities, and the pattern of
inter-relationships and co-dependencies among them differ between divergent
personality styles. To measure social cognition, a large non-clinical sample (n = 290)
undertook an extensive battery of self-report and performance-based measures of
visual perspective taking, imitative tendencies, affective empathy, interoceptive
accuracy, emotion regulation, and state affectivity. These same individuals then
completed the Personality Styles and Disorders Inventory. Latent profile analysis
revealed two dissociable personality profiles that exhibited contrasting cognitive and
affective dispositions, and multivariate analyses indicated further that these profiles
differed on measures of social cognition; individuals characterised by a flexible and
adaptive personality profile expressed higher action orientation (emotion regulation)
compared to those showing more inflexible tendencies, along with better visual
perspective taking, superior interoceptive accuracy, less imitative tendencies, and
lower personal distress and negativity. These characteristics point towards more
efficient self-other distinction, and to higher cognitive control more generally. Moreover,
low-level cognitive mechanisms served to mediate other higher-level socio-emotional
capabilities. Together, these findings elucidate the cognitive and affective
underpinnings of individual differences in social behaviour, providing a data-driven
model that should guide future research in this area.
U2 - 10.1007/s00426-018-1107-3
DO - 10.1007/s00426-018-1107-3
M3 - Article (journal)
SN - 0340-0727
SP - 1
EP - 18
JO - Psychological Research
JF - Psychological Research
ER -