Aspects of social competence in schizotypal college students

Date

1995-12

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Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

Schizotypal college students having positive-symptom characteristics were identified using a schizotypy scale (Venables, Wilkins, Mitchell, Raine, & Bailes, 1990) deemed a purer measure than other widely-used alternatives (e.g., psychosis-prone scales) that tend to inappropriately weight depressive symptoms. Social competence in schizotypal subjects was compared to that of normal subjects using a comprehensive, social information-processing model (Dodge & Murphy, 1984). Social competence was assessed in terms of (1) generating competent responses to social situations, (2) recognizing competent responses, (3) and self-monitoring social responses. Social measures were derived from vignettes of specific social situations. Group differences were found on ail of the assessed aspects of social competence. Gender differences were found for generating and recognizing socially competent responses. Group differences were consistent with the hypotheses in that both male and female schizotypals were found to perform more poorly at all three stages of information-processing than normal control subjects. Results are interpreted in the context of the vulnerability-stress model of positive-symptom schizophrenia.

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