Distortions Of Mind Perception On Psychopathology, By Kurt...

Funday Friday #1: Distortions of mind perception in psychopathology â€Å"Distortions of mind perception in psychopathology†, by Kurt Gray, Adrianna C Jenkins, Andra S. Heberlein, and Daniel M. Wegner, is an article that aims to determine how the understanding of distorted mind perception can further the understanding of those with mental illnesses, specifically three disorders that have been connected to abnormal social function. A study revealed that mind perception can occur along dimensions of experience and agency. The purpose of Gray et al.’s research was to explore three subclinical syndromes that are linked to abnormal social function: autism-spectrum disorder, schizotypy and psychopathy in an attempt to find a unique pattern of distorted mind perception for each syndrome. Previous research has discovered that people on the autism spectrum have difficulty understanding the agency portion of mind perception, meaning they have trouble representing other people’s mental states. Contrary to autism, schizotypy involves the over-attribution of mental states, specifically agency, in the area of social cognition. The third syndrome, psychopathy, is characterized as the failure to be aware of experience. This explains the tendency for psychopaths to be insensitive and manipulative. In order to investigate the pattern of distorted mind perception 890 participants were surveyed online. Participants completed a survey that gathered the perceived experience and agency of nine target