A cross-cultural investigation of schizotypy, empathy, and interpersonal pleasure

Elevated schizotypy is associated with impairments in social-emotion functioning. Social behavior, in turn, is influenced by culture. However, very little is known about the impact of culture on schizotypy, empathy and interpersonal pleasure. 82 American and 54 Chinese age-matched participants completed questionnaires to assess schizotypy, cognitive/affective empathy, and interpersonal pleasure. There were cross-cultural differences in schizotypy, empathy, and interpersonal pleasure. There were also gender differences in schizotypy, interpersonal pleasure, and empathy. Chinese participants and males had lower levels of empathy and interpersonal pleasure. Schizotypy was negatively correlated with interpersonal pleasure, as well as cognitive but not affective empathy; correlations were driven by negative-schizotypy. Regression analyses using gender, schizotypy, and culture to predict empathy revealed schizotypy and culture (but not gender) as significant predictors. There may be cultural differences in schizotypy and measures of interpersonal social functioning, which should be considered in both research and clinical contexts. The results of our study underscore the importance of culture and gender effects in psychopathology and social functioning.