title: Individual differences in action co-representation: not personal distress or subclinical psychotic experiences but sex composition modulates joint action performance.
abstract: Successful social interaction requires the ability to integrate as well as distinguish own and others' actions. Normally, the integration and distinction of self and other are a well-balanced process, occurring without much effort or conscious attention. However, not everyone is blessed with the ability to balance self-other distinction and integration, resulting in personal distress in reaction to other people's emotions or even a loss of self [e.g., in (subclinical) psychosis]. Previous research has demonstrated that the integration and distinction of others' actions cause interference with one's own action performance (commonly assessed with a social Simon task). The present study had two goals. First, as previous studies on the social Simon effect employed relatively small samples (N < 50 per test), we aimed for a sample size that allowed us to test the robustness of the action interference effect. Second, we tested to what extent action interference reflects individual differences in traits related to self-other distinction (i.e., personal distress in reaction to other people's emotions and subclinical psychotic symptoms). Based on a questionnaire study among a large sample (N = 745), we selected a subsample (N = 130) of participants scoring low, average, or high on subclinical psychotic symptoms, or on personal distress. The selected participants performed a social Simon task. Results showed a robust social Simon effect, regardless of individual differences in personal distress or subclinical psychotic symptoms. However, exploratory analyses revealed that the sex composition of interaction pairs modulated social Simon effects. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Huispostnummer A.01.126, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.vanderweiden@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Anouk
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2383-4203
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Weiden
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aarts
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Huispostnummer A.01.126, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Merel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prikken
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Huispostnummer A.01.126, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Neeltje E M
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: van Haren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Joint action; Personal distress; Self–other distinction; Sex composition; Simon effect; Subclinical psychotic symptoms