Interpersonal Reactivity Research Articles

MATTERS OF THE HEART: DAILY SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY IN MIDDLE AND OLD AGE

Social ties are essential for survival but the mechanisms accounting for this link are unclear. This study examined links between daily interpersonal experiences and cardiovascular reactivity. A total of 34 participants (aged 40 to 80) completed ecological momentary assessment surveys every three hours for 4 days and wore a device that assessed heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV). Multilevel models revealed that a greater number of social interactions and negative social interactions predicted increased HR. Links between social interactions and cardiovascular reactivity varied by gender and race. A greater number of interactions and negative interactions predicted increased HRV among men and not women. A greater number of social interactions predicted increased HR among Black individuals and White women but not White men. Thus, social interactions appear to get under the skin via the cardiovascular system but in unique ways that vary by gender and race.

Enthusiastic Acts of Evil: The Assessment of Sadistic Personality in Polish and Italian Populations

Subclinical sadism has received substantial attention in recent research as a trait that predicts a variety of malevolent behaviors. The objective of this study was to assess the ‘psychometric robustness and portability’ of the Assessment of Sadistic Personality (ASP). We examined the convergent and discriminant validity, and invariance of translated versions of the ASP within community samples of Polish and Italian individuals. The study included 568 individuals (340 women and 228 men) residing in Italy (Mage = 23.57, SDage = 2.55) and 556 individuals (411 women, 144 men, 1 other) residing in Poland (Mage = 23.48, SDage = 4.60). For cultural invariance purposes, data from a Canadian sample comprising 638 students were used. To establish convergent and discriminant validity, participants completed measures of sadism, the Dark Triad, the Big Five, interpersonal reactivity, and maladaptive traits described in the DSM-5. Across both samples, convergent and discriminant validity were supported. Configural and partial metric invariance were satisfied, and following implementation of alignment optimization, latent mean differences were evaluated between countries. Results of the study supported the psychometric qualities of the ASP across different cultures and languages, and the utility of the ASP as a valid measure extending beyond university samples.

The Effectiveness of Narrative Exposure Therapy on Improving Posttraumatic Symptoms and Interpersonal Reactivity in Patients With Cancer

The Effectiveness of Narrative Exposure Therapy on Improving Posttraumatic Symptoms and Interpersonal Reactivity in Patients With Cancer

Cognitive and Emotional Components of Rejection Sensitivity: Independent Contributions to Adolescent Self- and Interpersonal Functioning.

In this article, we focus on rejection sensitivity (RS) in adolescents. Although the RS model distinguishes clearly between the emotional (i.e., anger and anxiety) and the cognitive (i.e., expectation of rejection) components, research has rarely examined their unique connection with psychological problems. We argue that considering the three components separately would provide additional insights regarding the relationship between RS and psychological problems. We aimed to test the goodness of fit of a three-factor solution and to investigate the validity of the three components separately in predicting self- and interpersonal functioning in adolescents. Indeed, 720 adolescents completed the Children's Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, self-reports of self- and interpersonal functioning (self-esteem and interpersonal reactivity), and peer ratings of preference and bothersomeness. The three-factor solution showed fit indexes comparable to the two alternative one-factor solutions underlying the traditional approach of the composite scores. More importantly, we found specific contributions of each of the three RS components in predicting different features of self- and interpersonal functioning. Thus, depending on the psychological problems under consideration, the role of the three RS components varies. We discuss the implications of these findings.

Functional connectivity changes following interpersonal reactivity.

Attachment experiences substantially influence emotional and cognitive development. Narratives comprising attachment-dependent content were proposed to modulate activation of cognitive-emotional schemata in listeners. We studied the effects after listening to prototypical attachment narratives on wellbeing and countertransference-reactions in 149 healthy participants. Neural correlates of these cognitive-emotional schema activations were investigated in a 7 Tesla rest-task-rest fMRI-study (23 healthy males) using functional connectivity (FC) analysis of the social approach network (seed regions: left and right Caudate Nucleus, CN). Reduced FC between left CN and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) represented a general effect of prior auditory stimulation. After presentation of the insecure-dismissing narrative, FC between left CN and bilateral temporo-parietal junction, and right dorsal posterior Cingulum was reduced, compared to baseline. Post-narrative FC-patterns of insecure-dismissing and insecure-preoccupied narratives differed in strength between left CN and right DLPFC. Neural correlates of the moderating effect of individual attachment anxiety were represented in a reduced CN-DLPFC FC as a function of individual neediness-levels. These findings suggest specific neural processing of prolonged mood-changes and schema activation induced by attachment-specific speech patterns. Individual desire for interpersonal proximity was predicted by attachment anxiety and furthermore modulated FC of the social approach network in those exposed to such narratives.

Neural systems for evaluating speaker (Un)believability.

Our voice provides salient cues about how confident we sound, which promotes inferences about how believable we are. However, the neural mechanisms involved in these social inferences are largely unknown. Employing functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined the brain networks and individual differences underlying the evaluation of speaker believability from vocal expressions. Participants (n = 26) listened to statements produced in a confident, unconfident, or "prosodically unmarked" (neutral) voice, and judged how believable the speaker was on a 4-point scale. We found frontal-temporal networks were activated for different levels of confidence, with the left superior and inferior frontal gyrus more activated for confident statements, the right superior temporal gyrus for unconfident expressions, and bilateral cerebellum for statements in a neutral voice. Based on listener's believability judgment, we observed increased activation in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) associated with higher believability, while increased left posterior central gyrus (PoCG) was associated with less believability. A psychophysiological interaction analysis found that the anterior cingulate cortex and bilateral caudate were connected to the right SPL when higher believability judgments were made, while supplementary motor area was connected with the left PoCG when lower believability judgments were made. Personal characteristics, such as interpersonal reactivity and the individual tendency to trust others, modulated the brain activations and the functional connectivity when making believability judgments. In sum, our data pinpoint neural mechanisms that are involved when inferring one's believability from a speaker's voice and establish ways that these mechanisms are modulated by individual characteristics of a listener. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3732-3749, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Clinical trial of modulatory effects of oxytocin treatment on higher-order social cognition in autism spectrum disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind and crossover trial.

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions with severe impairments in social communication and interaction. Pioneering research suggests that oxytocin can improve motivation, cognition and attention to social cues in patients with autism spectrum disorder. The aim of this clinical trial is to characterize basic mechanisms of action of acute oxytocin treatment on neural levels and to relate these to changes in different levels of socio-affective and -cognitive functioning.MethodsThis clinical study is a randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled, multicenter functional magnetic resonance imaging study with two arms. A sample of 102 male autism spectrum disorder patients, diagnosed with Infantile Autistic Disorder (F84.0 according to ICD-10), Asperger Syndrome (F84.5 according to ICD-10), or Atypical Autism (F84.1 according to ICD-10) will be recruited and will receive oxytocin and placebo nasal spray on two different days. Autism spectrum disorder patients will be randomized to determine who receives oxytocin on the first and who on the second visit. Healthy control participants will be recruited and case-control matched to the autism spectrum disorder patients. The primary outcome will be neural network activity, measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging while participants perform socio-affective and -cognitive tasks. Behavioral markers such as theory of mind accuracy ratings and response times will be assessed as secondary outcomes in addition to physiological measures such as skin conductance. Trait measures for alexithymia, interpersonal reactivity, and social anxiety will also be evaluated. Additionally, we will analyze the effect of oxytocin receptor gene variants and how these potentially influence the primary and secondary outcome measures. Functional magnetic resonance imaging assessments will take place at two time points which will be scheduled at least two weeks apart to ensure a sufficient wash-out time after oxytocin treatment. The study has been approved by an ethical review board and the competent authority.DiscussionRevealing the mechanisms of acute oxytocin administration, especially on the socio-affective and -cognitive domains at hand, will be a further step towards novel therapeutic interventions regarding autism.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trial Register DRKS00010053. The trial was registered on the 8th of April 2016

Feel the Feelings

Some people can assume behaviors considered inhuman and brutal, such as making sexual violence on adults or even on children. Sex offenders use the other as an object that can give them pleasure, sometimes with sadistic attitude, careless of causing them suffering and shocks. Though it seems impossible, actually it happens, opening a debate on how much these persons can realize the pain they are causing, and haw can they tolerate it. In the study we present, a population of sex offenders convicted in a prison of Genoa will be tested with validated instruments to investigate some aspects of their personality, such as empathy and emotional cognition. Their ability in recognizing non verbal communication of feelings will be evaluated, in order to correlate those aspects to impulsivity, interpersonal reactivity and aggressivness, trying to understand the incomprehensible.

Nonverbal synchrony and affect in dyadic interactions.

In an experiment on dyadic social interaction, we invited participants to verbal interactions in cooperative, competitive, and ‘fun task’ conditions. We focused on the link between interactants’ affectivity and their nonverbal synchrony, and explored which further variables contributed to affectivity: interactants’ personality traits, sex, and the prescribed interaction tasks. Nonverbal synchrony was quantified by the coordination of interactants’ body movement, using an automated video-analysis algorithm (motion energy analysis). Traits were assessed with standard questionnaires of personality, attachment, interactional style, psychopathology, and interpersonal reactivity. We included 168 previously unacquainted individuals who were randomly allocated to same-sex dyads (84 females, 84 males, mean age 27.8 years). Dyads discussed four topics of general interest drawn from an urn of eight topics, and finally engaged in a fun interaction. Each interaction lasted 5 min. In between interactions, participants repeatedly assessed their affect. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we found moderate to strong effect sizes for synchrony to occur, especially in competitive and fun task conditions. Positive affect was associated positively with synchrony, negative affect was associated negatively. As for causal direction, data supported the interpretation that synchrony entailed affect rather than vice versa. The link between nonverbal synchrony and affect was strongest in female dyads. The findings extend previous reports of synchrony and mimicry associated with emotion in relationships and suggest a possible mechanism of the synchrony-affect correlation.

The relationship between neurocognition and symptomatology in people with schizophrenia: social cognition as the mediator.

BackgroundThe relationship between neurocognition and symptomatology in people with schizophrenia has been established. The present study examined whether social cognition could mediate this relationship.MethodsThere were 119 participants (58 people with paranoid schizophrenia and 61 healthy controls) participated in this study. Neurocognition was assessed by Raven’s Progressive Matrices Test, the Judgment of Line Orientation Test, and the Tower of London Test. Psychiatric symptoms in people with schizophrenia were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Social cognition was measured by the Faux Pas Test, the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” Test, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index.ResultsResults were consistent with previous findings that neurocognition and social cognition were impaired in the clinical participants. A novel observation is that social cognition significantly mediated the relationship between neurocognition and symptomatology.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that neurocognitive deficits predispose people with schizophrenia to worse psychiatric symptoms through the impairment of social cognition. Findings of the present study provide important insight into a functional model of schizophrenia that could guide the development of cost-effective interventions for people with schizophrenia.

Women Are Better at Selecting Gifts than Men

There is a widespread belief that women are better at selecting gifts than men; however, this claim has not been assessed on the basis of objective criteria. The current studies do exactly that and show that women do indeed make better gift selections for others, regardless of the gender of the receiver and the type of relationship between the giver and receiver. We investigate the mediating role of different aspects of interpersonal sensitivity and reveal that differences in interpersonal interest (measured with an autism questionnaire), but not differences in interpersonal reactivity, explain gender differences in gift selection quality. The current studies thus present the first objective evidence for the claim that women are better in selecting gifts for others and also give an indication of why this is the case.

HPA system activity in alexithymia: A cortisol awakening response study

Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulties in identifying, describing and communicating one's own emotions. It is also associated with several stress-related psychiatric disorders. The aim of the study was to examine the cortisol awakening response (CAR) as a measure of HPA-system function in a community based sample of psychologically and physically healthy adults with alexithymia. Fourty-one high alexithymic individuals and thirty-seven low alexithymic subjects, well-controlled regarding gender, age and sociodemographic status, provided three saliva cortisol samples each day for three consecutive days for the calculation of mean CAR. Participants filled out questionnaires on alexithymia (TAS-20, BVAQ) and interpersonal reactivity (IRI) prior to cortisol assessment. The mean CAR of three sampling days was significantly lower in the alexithymic group in comparison to control participants. Additionally there was a negative correlation between CAR and perceived stress, which points to lower CAR in alexithymia accompanied by higher perceived stress in socio-emotional situations. CAR was negatively correlated with age in the alexithymic group, indicating to alterations in HPA system over longer time to stress exposure. Alexithymic individuals have a lower CAR. Hence the results of the present study indicate that certain aspects of personality modulate HPA-system functioning.

Embodied empathy for tactile events: Interindividual differences and vicarious somatosensory responses during touch observation

A growing body of evidence suggests an involvement of the somatosensory cortices for social perception. For example, it has been shown that observing touch on other bodies (in the absence of any real touch on the own body) affects somatosensory brain areas. Thus, understanding others' sensory experiences seems to rely on vicarious activation of somatosensory cortices. Recent studies also demonstrated that observation of painful and nonpainful touch engages the observer's somatosensory cortex differentially. The somatosensory activation during observation of painful stimulation has been related to trait differences in empathy, thereby drawing the attention to inter-individual differences in vicarious somatosensory activation. The current study aims to test the hypothesis if vicarious somatosensory activation during observation of nonpainful touch is also linked to inter-individual differences in empathy. We employed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm to present video clips showing simple non-painful touch with a paintbrush to a hand relative to a control condition including the same visual and motion parts. Results revealed vicarious somatosensory activation when seeing the hand being touched. This activation was associated with trait differences in interpersonal reactivity. Thus, we found that the somatosensory response in primary somatosensory cortex (SI) was associated with the empathy subscale perspective taking. This link demonstrates that vicarious somatosensory responses for simple touch are influenced by the observer's personality traits, therefore suggesting a role for personality traits in a putative mirror neuron system.

Effects of age-related differences in empathy on social economic decision-making

The ways in which aging affects social economic decision-making is a central issue in the psychology of aging. To examine age-related differences in social economic decision-making as a function of empathy, 80 healthy volunteers participated in the Repeated Fixed Opponent Ultimatum Game (UG-R). Previous economic decision-making research has shown that in younger adults empathy is associated with prosocial behavior. The effects of empathy on older adult social economic decision-making are not well understood. On each of 20 consecutive trials in the UG-R, one player ("Proposer") splits $10 with another player ("Responder") who chooses either to accept (whereby both receive the proposed division) or reject (whereby neither receives anything). Trait cognitive and emotional empathy were measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. UG-R data were examined as a function of age and cognitive empathy. For "unfair" offers (i.e. offers less than $5), older Responders with high cognitive empathy showed less prosocial behavior and obtained greater payoffs than younger Responders with high cognitive empathy. High levels of cognitive empathy may differentially affect economic decision-making behavior in younger and older adults. For older adults, high cognitive empathy may play a role in obtaining high financial payoffs while for younger adults it may instead be involved in facilitating social relationships.

Atypical depression as a premonitory symptom of migraine managed by an oral contraceptive

Depression and headaches are frequently associated comorbid disorders. In previous reports psychiatrists have tended to regard headaches as an accompanying symptom of depression while neurologists have tended to have the opposite opinion. The following case report characterizes migraine as a prime cause of major depression. A 27-year-old woman presented because of a self-poisoning attempt with 12 mg of alprazolam. She had been suffering from major depression and sporadic headaches from the age of 24. After onset of the symptoms she had often injured herself by cutting her arm and attempted to suicide by self-poisoning. A variety of antidepressants had failed to improve her symptoms and she had been diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder comorbid with major depression. A medical interview at her first visit revealed that her major depressive episode had been predominantly characterized by atypical features in DSM-IV such as overeating hypersomnia leaden paralysis interpersonal rejection sensitivity and mood reactivity. She had also suffered persistent aura and premonitory symptoms of migraine such as scintillating scotomas photopsia and phonophobia.1 Lomerizine a calcium channel antagonist was first administered at 10 mg/day for treatment of the migraine in combination with valproic acid at 600 mg/day. This medication led to prompt resolution of her self-injury and suicidal behaviors but depressive mood with a series of migraine attacks paralleling each menstrual period persisted. Therefore additionally the patient was prescribed Ortho-Novum®7/7/7 an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone to prevent ovulation. With this medication all the symptoms immediately disappeared. Lomerizine and valproic acid were gradually withdrawn and no recurrence has been noted for over 1 year. Depression is one of the common premonitory symptoms of migraine and a first-line treatment strategy for migraine showed some degree of clinical effectiveness on the depressive episode in the present case.12 Accordingly it was considered that the patients major depression was also a premonitory symptom of migraine. Ovarian hormones can alter neurotransmitter system theorized to play an important role in the pathogenesis of migraine.3 Although hormonal treatment of migraine is not a first-line strategy due to an increased risk of ischemic stroke oral contraceptives can have a broad effect on the character and frequency of migraine.45 We suggest that clinicians should check for the complication of migraine in depressive patients. Depressive patients with migraine might show a preferential response to management of migraine rather than medication with common antidepressants. In female patients it is also prudent to be aware of any symptomatic relevance to the menstrual cycle and that oral contraceptives have the potential to treat such problems. (full-text)

Religious Commitment in Iran: Correlates and Factors of Quest and Extrinsic Religious Orientations

Iranians responded to Quest and Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scales in order to assess their validity and factor structure within a Muslim context. A sample of 251 Iranian university students received Persian versions of these instruments along with Intrinsic Religious Orientation, Interpersonal Reactivity, Constructive Thinking, Need for Cognition, and Openness to Experience Scales. Analysis of these data revealed that the Quest Scale contained four factors and validly measured Iranian religious commitments. Extrinsic and Intrinsic Religious Orientation Scales also clarified the psychological implications of religion in Iran. Extrinsic factors corresponded to American data; and as in previous Pakistani studies, Extrinsic-Personal scores were higher on average than those for the Intrinsic Orientation, which in turn was higher than the Extrinsic-Social motivation. These findings confirmed that the Quest and Intrinsic Scales along with the Extrinsic factors may be useful in the construction of a Muslim psychology of religion.

Bridging the Gap Between Neuroscience and the Social World: Theory, Research, and Mechanisms in Social Neuroscience

Essays in Social Neuroscience . John T. Cacioppo and Gary G. Berntson (Eds.). 2004. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 168 pp., $32.00/£20.95. Essays in Social Neuroscience , edited by John T. Cacioppo and Gary G. Berntson, is a slim collection of highly engaging and—for the overextended neuropsychologist—enjoyably brief essays surveying current research and theory in the emerging field of social neuroscience. Each contributor attests to the variety of examples of research bridging the historic divide between neuroscience and social psychology. For neuropsychologists, this volume offers enlightening demonstrations of the potential for traditional methods in neuroscience to speak to the complex and reciprocal interplay between neural systems and the social world. From Sue Carter's essay “Oxytocin and the Prairie Vole: A Love Story” to Shelley E. Taylor's contribution “The Accidental Neuroscientist: Positive Resources, Stress Responses, and Course of Illness,” these essays speak to such diverse issues as interpersonal attraction, loyalty, emotional reactivity, and environmental contributions to autoimmune disease. Some essays speak more to the potential for bridging the gap than to demonstrated success in this effort, but those essays remain pleasurable, rewarding reads. The large majority of essays, four of which are described in more detail below, beautifully exemplify the fruitfulness of this area of inquiry.

Interpersonal sensitivity and reactivity to spousal conflict in healthy older women

Abstract This study investigated whether interpersonal sensitivity was associated with reactivity to spousal conflict beyond neuroticism. Interpersonal sensitivity is defined as an excessive sensitivity to the behavior and feelings of others. Participants were 49 healthy older women who were interviewed weekly for 12–20 consecutive weeks. Interpersonal sensitivity and neuroticism were measured in mailed questionnaires. Spousal conflict, positive affect, and negative affect were assessed weekly in phone interviews. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted predicting positive and negative affect from interpersonal sensitivity, spousal conflict, and the sensitivity×spousal conflict interaction. Neuroticism and age were used as control variables. The results indicated that women higher in interpersonal sensitivity had more negative affect and less positive affect in times of spousal conflict than women lower in interpersonal sensitivity. The findings suggest that interpersonal sensitivity may play a unique role in reactivity to interpersonal conflict.

A Study on the Change of Empathy

The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual of the changing empathy in Physical Education classes referencing Davis's Interpersonal Reactivity Index.It is important to form empathy creating the relationship with others in the future Physical Education classes. We must investigate the construction of the common measure originally in Physical Education classes from emotional side and cognitive side.As a result of analyzing a variety of competitive sports classes, it was made clear that there were some differences in empathy. Furthermore, characteristic patterns of empathy form were identified.As a conclusion, it was understood that the attitude of putting oneself in a partner's shoes is important for the formation of empathy.Regarding future study methods, it is planned 1) to reexamine a questionnaire which includes measurement items for the purpose of considering actual instruction in Physical Education classes, and 2) to show and verify concrete learning processes of empathy.

Accurately Imagining Suicide: Imagine‐Self, Imagine‐Person, Observer Instructions1

To see if actor versus observer instructions influenced students' perceptions of social support during a suicidal crisis, 80 students completed social support, interpersonal reactivity, and suicidal behaviors questionnaires. In a yoked design, students who had been suicidal were matched with those who were instructed to imagine themselves being suicidal, to imagine that another person was suicidal, or to observe a person who was suicidal. Those who had been suicidal in the past (n= 20) were more suicidal than the other 3 groups (ns= 20). The suicidal group perceived high social support (belonging and appraisal), compared to the others, who perceived moderate support. Overall, nonsuicidal college students consistently underestimated their suicidal peer's social support, regardless of the instructions they were given.