The Role of Cultural Capital in Self-Reported Alexithymia and Empathy

• Autores: Giulia Gaggero, Giulia Balboni, Gianluca Esposito
• Localización: Psicothema, ISSN-e 1886-144X, ISSN 0214-9915, Vol. 36, Nº. 3, 2024, págs. 267-276
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.7334/psicothema2023.372
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen
  • español

    Antecedentes: Los factores socioculturales desempeñan un papel central en el procesamiento y expresión de las emociones. En este estudio, se explora si el Capital Cultural (CC)—es decir los conocimientos, códigos culturales y habilidades de la persona—puede explicar las diferencias individuales en comprender las emociones proprias (alexitimia) y ayenas (empatía). Método: Se realizó una encuesta preregistrada con una muestra italiana (N = 475). La alexitimia y la empatía se evaluaron respectivamente mediante la Toronto Alexitimia Scale y el Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Resultados: Los análisis de regresión confirman un papel significativo, aunque limitado, del CC en los niveles de alexitimia y empatía registrados a través de autoinforme. Las personas con mayor CC mostraron menor Pensamiento Externamente Orientado, mayor Toma de Perspectiva y mayor Fantasía. La alexitimia y la empatía también se vieron afectadas por la deseabilidad social. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que I) el Capital Cultural influye en la capacidad de analizar los sentimientos propios y comprender la perspectiva ajena, y II) la deseabilidad social es una variable interviniente en la validez de las medidas de autoinforme sobre habilidades emocionales. En general, esta investigación subraya la importancia de estudiar los procesos afectivos considerando el contexto cultural del individuo.

  • English

    Background: Sociocultural factors play an essential role in the way we process and express emotions. In this study, we asked whether Cultural Capital (CC)—the set of knowledge, cultural codes, and skills embodied by people—explains individual differences in two constructs measuring the capacity to understand our own emotions (alexithymia) or others’ emotions (empathy). Method: A pre-registered survey was conducted with an Italian sample (N = 475). Alexithymia and empathy were assessed respectively via the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Results: Regression analyses confirmed a significant, although limited, role of CC in predicting alexithymia and empathy. People with higher CC showed lower Externally Oriented Thinking, higher Perspective Taking, and higher Fantasy. Self-reported alexithymia and empathy were also impacted by scores on a social desirability scale. Conclusions: These results suggest that I) Cultural Capital influences the ability to analyse one’s own feelings and understand others’ perspectives, and II) social desirability threatens the validity of self-report measures of emotional abilities. Overall, this research underlines the importance of studying affective processes by considering an individual’s cultural context.

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