The Study of Relationship between Theory of Mind and Alexithymia in a Nonclinical Group

Theory of mind as a social cognitive ability and alexithymia as an Inability to identify emotions in one self and others are the important components of social cognition that seems because of their common neural correlates and functional overlaps can be considered in relation to each other. Current study is a descriptive- correlational with regression method, which aimed to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and theory of mind in a nonclinical group. The sample consisted of 233 students from Bonab universities that selected by multistage-cluster sampling and they responded to tests of Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), and alexithymia questionnaire TAS-20. The data were analyzed by Pierson correlation, linear regression analysis, and simultaneously multiple regression analysis methods. Findings confirmed the predictive role of alexithymia in connection with the theory of mind abilities. Among the components of alexithymia, objective thinking had a high predictive contribution to the theory of mind (P<0/001). It seems that for more effective and efficient treatment and psychological interventions, considering both variables of alexithymia and theory of mind ability in Planning for treatment is important.