Reports of Emotional Expressivity and Willingness to Associate in Peers of Social Anhedonics.

Abstract

Despite promising research on social anhedonia as an indicator of schizotypy, little is known about the social correlates of this construct. The current study examined peer relationships and emotional expressivity of individuals classified as socially anhedonic. Specifically, this study sought to examine to what degree diminished emotional expressivity in anhedonics occurs, and if it may contribute to social difficulties. Social anhedonics and controls were recruited from a college sample. The roommates of participants were also contacted and asked to complete ratings of emotional expressivity, willingness to interact, and a social pleasure scale. Social anhedonics reported diminished emotional expressivity and also reported poorer social adjustment when compared to controls. Anhedonics did not differ from controls in their ratings of school or familial adjustment. Contrary to expectations, groups did not differ with respect to peer-rated expressivity, willingness to associate or social pleasure.