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Machiavellianism and Theory of Mind in people affected by schizophrenia
Monica Mazza1, Alessandro De Risio, Carola Tozzini
1Department of Psychiatry, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. mazzamon@tin.it
Context:
People affected by schizophrenia show deficits in social interaction (Cramer, Bowen, & O'Neill, 1992); such a deficit may stem from an alteration in the representation of mental states.
Object:
In this study we have examined 42 people affected by schizophrenia, diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, by testing them with an instrument (the Mach IV scale, Christie & Geis, 1970) assessing "Machiavellian Intelligence" according to Niccolò Machiavelli's assertions. Schizophrenic subjects were compared to a sample of normal controls, matched for age, sex, and education.
Objective:
The aim of our study was to evaluate if there were correlations between the ability to understand other people's mental states and the capacity for interpreting "Machiavellian expressions."
Results:
Results show that people affected by schizophrenia are less able to use Machiavellian-style "tactical" abilities than controls.
Conclusion:
Such a disability seems to be correlated to poor mentalising abilities.
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