Abstract
The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing the ability to recognize emotion. To examine the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the RMET and to explore the possible implications of poor performance on this task, 200 adults aged 19–32 years completed the RMET and the Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K), the cognitive empathy domain of the Korean version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C), and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory-Aggression (BDHI-A). In the present study, confirmatory factor analyses confirmed that the hypothesized three-factor solution based on three different emotional valences of the items (positive, negative, or neutral) had a good fit to the data. The Korean version of the RMET also showed good test-retest reliability over a 4-week time interval. Convergent validity was also supported by significant correlations with subscales of the TAS-20K, and discriminant validity was identified by nonsignificant associations with IRI-C scores. In addition, no difference was found in RMET performance according to the sex of the photographed individuals or the sex or educational attainment of the participants. Individuals with poor RMET performance were more likely to experience alexithymia and aggression. The current findings will facilitate not only future research on emotion processing but also the assessment of conditions related to the decreased ability to decode emotional stimuli.
Highlights
Social cognition encompasses a range of cognitive processes that can be clustered in several major domains, including theory of mind (ToM), empathy, social behavior, and social and emotional perception [1]
The results of a confirmatory factor analysis showed that the Korean version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) had a good fit to the data
The average RMET score in the Korean general population appears to be 26.57 ± 3.01, and this measure is quite similar to earlier findings from validation studies (Hungary 27.8 ± 5.0; Italy 24.8 ± 4.2; UK 28.3 ± 3.2; USA 27.3 ± 3.7 or 25.7 ± 4.9) [11, 14, 43,44,45]
Summary
Social cognition encompasses a range of cognitive processes that can be clustered in several major domains, including theory of mind (ToM), empathy, social behavior, and social and emotional perception [1]. These domains are partly overlap but are distinguishable in their function, methods of assessment, and brain areas involved [2]. Emotion perception refers to the ability to accurately recognize and interpret emotional expressions in others [4]. It has become an important issue in the field of mental health since it predicts clinical problems and maladaptive coping styles in individuals [5, 6]
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