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Department of Cognitive Science

Seminar Abstract

The faces of schizotypy.

Speaker : Dr Emma Barkus, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong.
Date : 26th of June 2012, 4:00PM until 5:30PM
Location : C5C498 - Palermo Room, Macquarie University.

Schizotypy is a personality trait which holds intrigue for both individual difference researchers and clinicians alike. It is link to a number of normal personality variables such as creativity, however along a clinical spectrum it is associated with increased risk for psychotic symptoms and psychosis. Schizotypy is characterised by emotional and social withdrawal, along with attenuated psychotic symptoms including unusual perceptual experiences, unusual beliefs and though patterns and, perhaps, an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Individuals from the general population who score highly on schizotypy are a useful surrogate group or model for investigating the psychological, neurological and biological mechanisms underpinning clinical psychotic symptoms. In this talk I will present data from a number of studies which we have conducted at the University of Wollongong. We have investigated factors associated with elevated schizotypy scores, how schizotypes interact with and perceive their environment.