Schizotypy, Social Factors, and Social Functioning

Schizotypy, characterised as a cluster of personality traits, provides a unifying framework for understanding risk, aetiology, developmental trajectory, and prognosis for psychopathology. Besides reflecting a latent liability for psychosis, schizotypy also allows investigation of individual differences beyond clinical settings. Impaired social functioning has been well-documented as a feature of psychiatric disorders and is posited to present before illness onset, remain stable over illness course, and persist long after symptomatic remission. Despite the transdiagnostic nature of loneliness and its likely frequent co-occurrence with schizotypal traits, the role of loneliness and poor social functioning in schizotypy research has been scarce. The broad aim of this thesis is to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of social functioning in individuals with schizotypy, social anhedonia and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). One of the more specific aims was the examination of the role of facial expressions of emotion, loneliness, and social support in their relationships with schizotypy.