Dimensional Association between Schizotypy and Empathy: Structural Link of Positive and Negative Schizotypy with Cognitive and Affective Empathy

The objective of this research was to study correlation between schizotypy, empathy, and their dimensions. One hundred and seventhy four normal students ranging from 16 to 19 years (females: M=17.09, SD=0.76, males: M=17.40, SD=0.61) were selected by cluster random sampling from Rey city. The students completed Empathy Quotient (EQ; Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2004) and Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ; Raine, 1991). The data was analyzed by pearson correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM). There was no significant relationship between total schizotypy and empathy scores. With regard to schizotypy and empathy are dimensional structures and each of their dimensions have discrete structures, the relationship between their dimensions were investigated. Analysis showed that both positive and negative schizotypy could predict cognitive empathy, but positive schizotypy had more important role (β= 0.347). In addition, both positive and negative schizotypy could predict affective empathy, but negative schizotypy had more important role (β=-0.218). Then, the structural relation of these explored associations was investigated by SEM. This analysis revealed that positive schizotypy had significant structural link with cognitive empathy (R=0.38), and negative schizotypy had significant structural link with affective empathy (R=-0.30). In conclusion, these data suggest that positive schizotypes had elevated cognitive empathy, and negative schizotypes had elevated affective empathy