Regardless of what, or if, you decide to celebrate at this time of year, it’s hard to stay in budget and keep the holiday season sustainable.

A group of UBC Okanagan experts has some tips on how to keep the green in your pocket while ensuring it’s a green holiday for the planet.

Bryn Crawford, Research Engineer, Program Manager, PacifiCan-MMRI Accelerating Circular Economy

It’s all about the packaging. Think about how something is packaged before you buy it. Is the packaging recyclable or reusable? Also, when it comes to wrapping, keeping and re-using gift-wrapping paper is a great way to reduce waste. Look for gifts that don’t use materials that would persist in landfill or would divert waste from landfill.

“I suggest people look for gifts that are composed of natural, untreated materials such as wood, paper, cotton, or highly recyclable materials such as aluminum or steel. Also look for items made from upcycled waste, try to shop at stores that allow you to bring in a bottle or container to refill, or look for merchants that sell items in bottles or packages that are made from 100 per cent recycled plastics.”

Nathan Pelletier, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science/Faculty of Management

Every Christmas there is inevitably a debate regarding the sustainability of real versus artificial trees.

So, which is better? Unfortunately, Dr. Pelletier says there is no simple answer.

Relative impacts and benefits will be influenced by production practices and location, transportation distances—including your own. Spending half a day searching for a tree in a pickup truck will definitely weight the outcome. And use behaviours should also be considered. An artificial tree used for 15 years will have a fraction of the impact of one that is only used for five years.

Also important to keep in mind are the specific aspects of sustainability that we consider, and how we prioritize among them. For example, carbon footprints versus biodiversity impacts, or jobs versus landscape aesthetic value.

“Comparisons are always complicated and perhaps distract from simple, powerful strategies like giving the gift of time to those we love and focusing on quality over quantity.”

Eric Li, Faculty of Management

Be present and give fewer presents. Use your time generously and think about volunteering at a local organization or providing your time to do something with someone, even if it’s a neighbour or acquaintance.

“We all live in a busy world, so perhaps the gift of your time is something another person might really appreciate. A key component of the season is about being with family and friends, so make a point of doing that.”

By all means, give gifts, but think about the material products. What’s really necessary. Maybe buy less this year. And try to buy local. Also think of where the packaging this gift is coming from and where it might end up.

Ross Hickey, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Donations to registered Canadian charities are on sale this year, as always. Giving to charities on behalf of others can help people give a gift that lets the recipient know how much the giver truly knows the recipient. Also, giving to registered religious organizations and advocacy groups can help others in a variety of ways. You’re giving a gift twice, to the charity and also to the recipient.

A fan of the 1905 classic tale the Gift of Magi, Dr. Hickey says shoppers should keep that story in mind while shopping.

“The story is about a young couple who each sell their most prized possessions to buy a gift for each other,” explains Dr. Hickey. “While they both ended up with gifts they couldn’t use, the theory is a gift that comes from self-sacrifice and love is what really matters. When it comes to overspending, I think that story says it all.”

The post Have a merry and sustainable festive season appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

Regardless of what, or if, you decide to celebrate at this time of year, it’s hard to stay in budget and keep the holiday season sustainable.

A group of UBC Okanagan experts has some tips on how to keep the green in your pocket while ensuring it’s a green holiday for the planet.

Bryn Crawford, Research Engineer, Program Manager, PacifiCan-MMRI Accelerating Circular Economy

It’s all about the packaging. Think about how something is packaged before you buy it. Is the packaging recyclable or reusable? Also, when it comes to wrapping, keeping and re-using gift-wrapping paper is a great way to reduce waste. Look for gifts that don’t use materials that would persist in landfill or would divert waste from landfill.

“I suggest people look for gifts that are composed of natural, untreated materials such as wood, paper, cotton, or highly recyclable materials such as aluminum or steel. Also look for items made from upcycled waste, try to shop at stores that allow you to bring in a bottle or container to refill, or look for merchants that sell items in bottles or packages that are made from 100 per cent recycled plastics.”

To find out more, visit: crno.ok.ubc.ca/bryn-crawford

Nathan Pelletier, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science/Faculty of Management

Every Christmas there is inevitably a debate regarding the sustainability of real versus artificial trees.

So, which is better? Unfortunately, Dr. Pelletier says there is no simple answer.

Relative impacts and benefits will be influenced by production practices and location, transportation distances—including your own. Spending half a day searching for a tree in a pickup truck will definitely weight the outcome. And use behaviours should also be considered. An artificial tree used for 15 years will have a fraction of the impact of one that is only used for five years.

Also important to keep in mind are the specific aspects of sustainability that we consider, and how we prioritize among them. For example, carbon footprints versus biodiversity impacts, or jobs versus landscape aesthetic value.

“Comparisons are always complicated and perhaps distract from simple, powerful strategies like giving the gift of time to those we love and focusing on quality over quantity.”

To find out more, visit: biology.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/nathan-pelletier

Eric Li, Faculty of Management

Be present and give fewer presents. Use your time generously and think about volunteering at a local organization or providing your time to do something with someone, even if it’s a neighbour or acquaintance.

“We all live in a busy world, so perhaps the gift of your time is something another person might really appreciate. A key component of the season is about being with family and friends, so make a point of doing that.”

By all means, give gifts, but think about the material products. What’s really necessary. Maybe buy less this year. And try to buy local. Also think of where the packaging this gift is coming from and where it might end up.

To find out more, visit: management.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/eric-li

Ross Hickey, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Donations to registered Canadian charities are on sale this year, as always. Giving to charities on behalf of others can help people give a gift that lets the recipient know how much the giver truly knows the recipient. Also, giving to registered religious organizations and advocacy groups can help others in a variety of ways. You’re giving a gift twice, to the charity and also to the recipient.

A fan of the 1905 classic tale the Gift of Magi, Dr. Hickey says shoppers should keep that story in mind while shopping.

“The story is about a young couple who each sell their most prized possessions to buy a gift for each other,” explains Dr. Hickey. “While they both ended up with gifts they couldn’t use, the theory is a gift that comes from self-sacrifice and love is what really matters. When it comes to overspending, I think that story says it all.”

To find out more, visit: epp.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/ross-hickey

The post Have a merry and sustainable festive season appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

Regardless of what, or if, you decide to celebrate at this time of year, it’s hard to stay in budget and keep the holiday season sustainable.

A group of UBC Okanagan experts has some tips on how to keep the green in your pocket while ensuring it’s a green holiday for the planet.

Bryn Crawford, Research Engineer, Program Manager, PacifiCan-MMRI Accelerating Circular Economy

It’s all about the packaging. Think about how something is packaged before you buy it. Is the packaging recyclable or reusable? Also, when it comes to wrapping, keeping and re-using gift-wrapping paper is a great way to reduce waste. Look for gifts that don’t use materials that would persist in landfill or would divert waste from landfill.

“I suggest people look for gifts that are composed of natural, untreated materials such as wood, paper, cotton, or highly recyclable materials such as aluminum or steel. Also look for items made from upcycled waste, try to shop at stores that allow you to bring in a bottle or container to refill, or look for merchants that sell items in bottles or packages that are made from 100 per cent recycled plastics.”

To find out more, visit: crno.ok.ubc.ca/bryn-crawford

Nathan Pelletier, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science/Faculty of Management

Every Christmas there is inevitably a debate regarding the sustainability of real versus artificial trees.

So, which is better? Unfortunately, Dr. Pelletier says there is no simple answer.

Relative impacts and benefits will be influenced by production practices and location, transportation distances—including your own. Spending half a day searching for a tree in a pickup truck will definitely weight the outcome. And use behaviours should also be considered. An artificial tree used for 15 years will have a fraction of the impact of one that is only used for five years.

Also important to keep in mind are the specific aspects of sustainability that we consider, and how we prioritize among them. For example, carbon footprints versus biodiversity impacts, or jobs versus landscape aesthetic value.

“Comparisons are always complicated and perhaps distract from simple, powerful strategies like giving the gift of time to those we love and focusing on quality over quantity.”

To find out more, visit: biology.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/nathan-pelletier

Eric Li, Faculty of Management

Be present and give fewer presents. Use your time generously and think about volunteering at a local organization or providing your time to do something with someone, even if it’s a neighbour or acquaintance.

“We all live in a busy world, so perhaps the gift of your time is something another person might really appreciate. A key component of the season is about being with family and friends, so make a point of doing that.”

By all means, give gifts, but think about the material products. What’s really necessary. Maybe buy less this year. And try to buy local. Also think of where the packaging this gift is coming from and where it might end up.

To find out more, visit: management.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/eric-li

Ross Hickey, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Donations to registered Canadian charities are on sale this year, as always. Giving to charities on behalf of others can help people give a gift that lets the recipient know how much the giver truly knows the recipient. Also, giving to registered religious organizations and advocacy groups can help others in a variety of ways. You’re giving a gift twice, to the charity and also to the recipient.

A fan of the 1905 classic tale the Gift of Magi, Dr. Hickey says shoppers should keep that story in mind while shopping.

“The story is about a young couple who each sell their most prized possessions to buy a gift for each other,” explains Dr. Hickey. “While they both ended up with gifts they couldn’t use, the theory is a gift that comes from self-sacrifice and love is what really matters. When it comes to overspending, I think that story says it all.”

To find out more, visit: epp.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/ross-hickey

The post Have a merry and sustainable festive season appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

A team of psychology researchers at UBC Okanagan has determined women who participate in one 10-minute intervention can come away feeling better about themselves and their perceived body image.

Associate Professor Dr. Maya Libben and her former honours undergraduate student Erin Fraser are researching the trend of micro-interventions. Just a quick 10-minute session with a soothing, previously recorded voice seems to make a significant difference when it comes to body satisfaction.

“In our lab we do lots of research around body image, self-assessments and interventions to discuss the effects of body dissatisfaction,” Dr. Libben explains. “We are also interested in micro-interventions. What can be accomplished from a quick gratitude meditation?”

Dr. Libben, who teaches psychology in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, says the issue of body dissatisfaction, especially in young teens and women, is chronic and concerning. More than 50 per cent say they are dissatisfied with their weight, shape and size. This can lead to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, including low self-esteem, depression, stress, obesity and social anxiety. Body dissatisfaction can also contribute to the development of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating.

Her team has done previous research, including a large-scale eight-week gratitude project, with school girls aged between 12 and 14. And while the longer programs were successful, Dr. Libben was intrigued by the idea of trying a one-time, 10-minute intervention.

For this particular study, 175 female undergraduate students, aged between 18 and 24, listened to three different sessions, recorded by someone with a soothing voice. One recording was about mindfulness, one about gratitude and one was a reading from a history textbook.

After each 10-minute session, participants were asked how they felt.

“What’s interesting is that body dissatisfaction decreased in all three conditions,” Dr. Libben adds. “We were expecting this for meditations but not for the history reading. What we realized is it is simply taking a 10-minute break and listening to something nice and calming can help body image. After each pep talk our study participants felt better about themselves.”

However, Dr. Libben notes things quickly changed.

Study participants were shown one of two sets of images—a set of neutral photos depicting inanimate objects, such as a car, or images of a perceived ideal woman, a typical thin body image.

“The feeling of body dissatisfaction shot right up again as soon as they saw images of thin women,” she says. “While we’ve learned we can bring down the feeling of dissatisfaction with moments of gratitude, it’s not enough to buffer you. This is troubling, especially in today’s society that is full of photoshopped bodies on social media.”

Her study, published in Body Image, confirms media exposure to “perceived perfect” images corresponds with women’s generalized dissatisfaction with their bodies, increased investment in appearance and the increased endorsement of disordered eating behaviours.

“Research has demonstrated a clear link between exposure to idealized imagery and body image disturbances,” Dr. Libben adds. “And even positive micro-interventions are not enough to fully buffer the negative impact exposure to thin-ideal images can have on young women.”

The post One 10-minute gratitude session helps women with body issues appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

A team of psychology researchers at UBC Okanagan has determined women who participate in one 10-minute intervention can come away feeling better about themselves and their perceived body image.

Associate Professor Dr. Maya Libben and her former honours undergraduate student Erin Fraser are researching the trend of micro-interventions. Just a quick 10-minute session with a soothing, previously recorded voice seems to make a significant difference when it comes to body satisfaction.

“In our lab we do lots of research around body image, self-assessments and interventions to discuss the effects of body dissatisfaction,” Dr. Libben explains. “We are also interested in micro-interventions. What can be accomplished from a quick gratitude meditation?”

Dr. Libben, who teaches psychology in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, says the issue of body dissatisfaction, especially in young teens and women, is chronic and concerning. More than 50 per cent say they are dissatisfied with their weight, shape and size. This can lead to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, including low self-esteem, depression, stress, obesity and social anxiety. Body dissatisfaction can also contribute to the development of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating.

Her team has done previous research, including a large-scale eight-week gratitude project, with school girls aged between 12 and 14. And while the longer programs were successful, Dr. Libben was intrigued by the idea of trying a one-time, 10-minute intervention.

For this particular study, 175 female undergraduate students, aged between 18 and 24, listened to three different sessions, recorded by someone with a soothing voice. One recording was about mindfulness, one about gratitude and one was a reading from a history textbook.

After each 10-minute session, participants were asked how they felt.

“What’s interesting is that body dissatisfaction decreased in all three conditions,” Dr. Libben adds. “We were expecting this for meditations but not for the history reading. What we realized is it is simply taking a 10-minute break and listening to something nice and calming can help body image. After each pep talk our study participants felt better about themselves.”

However, Dr. Libben notes things quickly changed.

Study participants were shown one of two sets of images—a set of neutral photos depicting inanimate objects, such as a car, or images of a perceived ideal woman, a typical thin body image.

“The feeling of body dissatisfaction shot right up again as soon as they saw images of thin women,” she says. “While we’ve learned we can bring down the feeling of dissatisfaction with moments of gratitude, it’s not enough to buffer you. This is troubling, especially in today’s society that is full of photoshopped bodies on social media.”

Her study, published in Body Image, confirms media exposure to “perceived perfect” images corresponds with women’s generalized dissatisfaction with their bodies, increased investment in appearance and the increased endorsement of disordered eating behaviours.

“Research has demonstrated a clear link between exposure to idealized imagery and body image disturbances,” Dr. Libben adds. “And even positive micro-interventions are not enough to fully buffer the negative impact exposure to thin-ideal images can have on young women.”

The post One 10-minute gratitude session helps women with body issues appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

A team of psychology researchers at UBC Okanagan has determined women who participate in one 10-minute intervention can come away feeling better about themselves and their perceived body image.

Associate Professor Dr. Maya Libben and her former honours undergraduate student Erin Fraser are researching the trend of micro-interventions. Just a quick 10-minute session with a soothing, previously recorded voice seems to make a significant difference when it comes to body satisfaction.

“In our lab we do lots of research around body image, self-assessments and interventions to discuss the effects of body dissatisfaction,” Dr. Libben explains. “We are also interested in micro-interventions. What can be accomplished from a quick gratitude meditation?”

Dr. Libben, who teaches psychology in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, says the issue of body dissatisfaction, especially in young teens and women, is chronic and concerning. More than 50 per cent say they are dissatisfied with their weight, shape and size. This can lead to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, including low self-esteem, depression, stress, obesity and social anxiety. Body dissatisfaction can also contribute to the development of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating.

Her team has done previous research, including a large-scale eight-week gratitude project, with school girls aged between 12 and 14. And while the longer programs were successful, Dr. Libben was intrigued by the idea of trying a one-time, 10-minute intervention.

For this particular study, 175 female undergraduate students, aged between 18 and 24, listened to three different sessions, recorded by someone with a soothing voice. One recording was about mindfulness, one about gratitude and one was a reading from a history textbook.

After each 10-minute session, participants were asked how they felt.

“What’s interesting is that body dissatisfaction decreased in all three conditions,” Dr. Libben adds. “We were expecting this for meditations but not for the history reading. What we realized is it is simply taking a 10-minute break and listening to something nice and calming can help body image. After each pep talk our study participants felt better about themselves.”

However, Dr. Libben notes things quickly changed.

Study participants were shown one of two sets of images—a set of neutral photos depicting inanimate objects, such as a car, or images of a perceived ideal woman, a typical thin body image.

“The feeling of body dissatisfaction shot right up again as soon as they saw images of thin women,” she says. “While we’ve learned we can bring down the feeling of dissatisfaction with moments of gratitude, it’s not enough to buffer you. This is troubling, especially in today’s society that is full of photoshopped bodies on social media.”

Her study, published in Body Image, confirms media exposure to “perceived perfect” images corresponds with women’s generalized dissatisfaction with their bodies, increased investment in appearance and the increased endorsement of disordered eating behaviours.

“Research has demonstrated a clear link between exposure to idealized imagery and body image disturbances,” Dr. Libben adds. “And even positive micro-interventions are not enough to fully buffer the negative impact exposure to thin-ideal images can have on young women.”

The post One 10-minute gratitude session helps women with body issues appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

A team of psychology researchers at UBC Okanagan has determined women who participate in one 10-minute intervention can come away feeling better about themselves and their perceived body image.

Associate Professor Dr. Maya Libben and her former honours undergraduate student Erin Fraser are researching the trend of micro-interventions. Just a quick 10-minute session with a soothing, previously recorded voice seems to make a significant difference when it comes to body satisfaction.

“In our lab we do lots of research around body image, self-assessments and interventions to discuss the effects of body dissatisfaction,” Dr. Libben explains. “We are also interested in micro-interventions. What can be accomplished from a quick gratitude meditation?”

Dr. Libben, who teaches psychology in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, says the issue of body dissatisfaction, especially in young teens and women, is chronic and concerning. More than 50 per cent say they are dissatisfied with their weight, shape and size. This can lead to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, including low self-esteem, depression, stress, obesity and social anxiety. Body dissatisfaction can also contribute to the development of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating.

Her team has done previous research, including a large-scale eight-week gratitude project, with school girls aged between 12 and 14. And while the longer programs were successful, Dr. Libben was intrigued by the idea of trying a one-time, 10-minute intervention.

For this particular study, 175 female undergraduate students, aged between 18 and 24, listened to three different sessions, recorded by someone with a soothing voice. One recording was about mindfulness, one about gratitude and one was a reading from a history textbook.

After each 10-minute session, participants were asked how they felt.

“What’s interesting is that body dissatisfaction decreased in all three conditions,” Dr. Libben adds. “We were expecting this for meditations but not for the history reading. What we realized is it is simply taking a 10-minute break and listening to something nice and calming can help body image. After each pep talk our study participants felt better about themselves.”

However, Dr. Libben notes things quickly changed.

Study participants were shown one of two sets of images—a set of neutral photos depicting inanimate objects, such as a car, or images of a perceived ideal woman, a typical thin body image.

“The feeling of body dissatisfaction shot right up again as soon as they saw images of thin women,” she says. “While we’ve learned we can bring down the feeling of dissatisfaction with moments of gratitude, it’s not enough to buffer you. This is troubling, especially in today’s society that is full of photoshopped bodies on social media.”

Her study, published in Body Image, confirms media exposure to “perceived perfect” images corresponds with women’s generalized dissatisfaction with their bodies, increased investment in appearance and the increased endorsement of disordered eating behaviours.

“Research has demonstrated a clear link between exposure to idealized imagery and body image disturbances,” Dr. Libben adds. “And even positive micro-interventions are not enough to fully buffer the negative impact exposure to thin-ideal images can have on young women.”

The post One 10-minute gratitude session helps women with body issues appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

While the manipulative and sometimes violent behaviour of psychopaths might be attributed to a lack of empathy, new UBC Okanagan research suggests that psychopaths may have a decreased ability to even sense someone else’s pain.

Dr. Kimberley Kaseweter, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at UBCO, has recently published research examining the relationship between psychopathic traits and perceiving other people’s facial expressions of pain. Her paper was published in the Journal of Personality Disorders.

“A lot of the literature has focused on those basic emotions and psychopathy, like anger, fear and sadness,” says Dr. Kaseweter. “Almost no research has really focused on pain, which I found surprising because of the association between pain and violent behaviour.”

For this study, participants completed the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale to assess psychopathic traits within four different facets: callous affect, interpersonal manipulation, antisocial behaviour and erratic lifestyle. They also watched video recordings of patients manipulating injured shoulders in range-of-motion tests and then rated both the intensity and unpleasantness of the pain from patients’ facial expressions.

These recordings from actual patients showed spontaneous, natural expressions of pain that had been intensely coded frame by frame. The patients also self-reported their pain from these manipulations.

Dr. Kaseweter and her team were interested in whether psychopathic traits were connected to differences in how these participants might perceive others’ pain. They also wanted to know if that difference was due to conservative response bias—consistently rating all perceived pain lower on the pain scale—reduced perceptual sensitivity—inaccurate ratings, whether higher or lower—or both of these factors.

“We were able to break those two factors apart and tease that apart, which I think really gets at answering our questions. Do individuals who were high in psychopathic traits have an inability to see the facial expression of pain? Or if they can actually see it and just don’t care,” she says.

The study found that while people with psychopathic traits did not have a response bias—or were no more or less likely in general to ascribe pain to people—they were significantly less accurate in their ratings of pain in other people’s facial expressions.

This reduced sensitivity to other people’s pain was most associated with callous affect and antisocial behaviour. Dr. Kaseweter says this finding is not surprising, giving callous affect is related to low empathy and reduced concern for others while antisocial behaviour involves engaging in criminal acts.

The literature on psychopathy is still unclear on the underlying causes behind these facets of psychopathy, but Dr. Kaseweter says this study showed that one possible mechanism might be a reduced ability to see other people’s pain. The violence inhibition mechanism model suggests that in order to experience empathy, people have to first be able to accurately perceive someone’s distress to then withdraw from violent behaviour.

This study, she says, supports that theory.

“If they’re not accurately perceiving those facial expressions, they’d be missing the ability to identify that expression and then feel empathy and pull away from that violent behaviour.”

While psychopaths have high rates of criminal behaviour, rehabilitation efforts with current treatments for these individuals have been largely ineffective, if not at times counterproductive.

Dr. Kaseweter is hopeful that this study could help isolate an area to direct more successful treatment in the future, especially with the clarification between response bias and actual inaccuracies in pain sensitivity.

“I think it’s a very important distinction. So how do we help? Is it just that people high in psychopathic traits don’t care? Then we have to teach them empathy in a different way. Or is it that they’re not seeing facial expressions accurately? Our findings suggest the latter—and that this decreased ability to detect pain accurately may underlie the lack of empathy we see with psychopathy.

“If this is the case, then training interventions designed to improve pain detection may, in turn, reduce the callous affect and antisocial behaviour characterizing psychopathy.”

The post Psychopaths may have an insensitivity to suffering appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

While the manipulative and sometimes violent behaviour of psychopaths might be attributed to a lack of empathy, new UBC Okanagan research suggests that psychopaths may have a decreased ability to even sense someone else’s pain.

Dr. Kimberley Kaseweter, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at UBCO, has recently published research examining the relationship between psychopathic traits and perceiving other people’s facial expressions of pain. Her paper was published in the Journal of Personality Disorders.

“A lot of the literature has focused on those basic emotions and psychopathy, like anger, fear and sadness,” says Dr. Kaseweter. “Almost no research has really focused on pain, which I found surprising because of the association between pain and violent behaviour.”

For this study, participants completed the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale to assess psychopathic traits within four different facets: callous affect, interpersonal manipulation, antisocial behaviour and erratic lifestyle. They also watched video recordings of patients manipulating injured shoulders in range-of-motion tests and then rated both the intensity and unpleasantness of the pain from patients’ facial expressions.

These recordings from actual patients showed spontaneous, natural expressions of pain that had been intensely coded frame by frame. The patients also self-reported their pain from these manipulations.

Dr. Kaseweter and her team were interested in whether psychopathic traits were connected to differences in how these participants might perceive others’ pain. They also wanted to know if that difference was due to conservative response bias—consistently rating all perceived pain lower on the pain scale—reduced perceptual sensitivity—inaccurate ratings, whether higher or lower—or both of these factors.

“We were able to break those two factors apart and tease that apart, which I think really gets at answering our questions. Do individuals who were high in psychopathic traits have an inability to see the facial expression of pain? Or if they can actually see it and just don’t care,” she says.

The study found that while people with psychopathic traits did not have a response bias—or were no more or less likely in general to ascribe pain to people—they were significantly less accurate in their ratings of pain in other people’s facial expressions.

This reduced sensitivity to other people’s pain was most associated with callous affect and antisocial behaviour. Dr. Kaseweter says this finding is not surprising, giving callous affect is related to low empathy and reduced concern for others while antisocial behaviour involves engaging in criminal acts.

The literature on psychopathy is still unclear on the underlying causes behind these facets of psychopathy, but Dr. Kaseweter says this study showed that one possible mechanism might be a reduced ability to see other people’s pain. The violence inhibition mechanism model suggests that in order to experience empathy, people have to first be able to accurately perceive someone’s distress to then withdraw from violent behaviour.

This study, she says, supports that theory.

“If they’re not accurately perceiving those facial expressions, they’d be missing the ability to identify that expression and then feel empathy and pull away from that violent behaviour.”

While psychopaths have high rates of criminal behaviour, rehabilitation efforts with current treatments for these individuals have been largely ineffective, if not at times counterproductive.

Dr. Kaseweter is hopeful that this study could help isolate an area to direct more successful treatment in the future, especially with the clarification between response bias and actual inaccuracies in pain sensitivity.

“I think it’s a very important distinction. So how do we help? Is it just that people high in psychopathic traits don’t care? Then we have to teach them empathy in a different way. Or is it that they’re not seeing facial expressions accurately? Our findings suggest the latter—and that this decreased ability to detect pain accurately may underlie the lack of empathy we see with psychopathy.

“If this is the case, then training interventions designed to improve pain detection may, in turn, reduce the callous affect and antisocial behaviour characterizing psychopathy.”

The post Psychopaths may have an insensitivity to suffering appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.

While the manipulative and sometimes violent behaviour of psychopaths might be attributed to a lack of empathy, new UBC Okanagan research suggests that psychopaths may have a decreased ability to even sense someone else’s pain.

Dr. Kimberley Kaseweter, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at UBCO, has recently published research examining the relationship between psychopathic traits and perceiving other people’s facial expressions of pain. Her paper was published in the Journal of Personality Disorders.

“A lot of the literature has focused on those basic emotions and psychopathy, like anger, fear and sadness,” says Dr. Kaseweter. “Almost no research has really focused on pain, which I found surprising because of the association between pain and violent behaviour.”

For this study, participants completed the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale to assess psychopathic traits within four different facets: callous affect, interpersonal manipulation, antisocial behaviour and erratic lifestyle. They also watched video recordings of patients manipulating injured shoulders in range-of-motion tests and then rated both the intensity and unpleasantness of the pain from patients’ facial expressions.

These recordings from actual patients showed spontaneous, natural expressions of pain that had been intensely coded frame by frame. The patients also self-reported their pain from these manipulations.

Dr. Kaseweter and her team were interested in whether psychopathic traits were connected to differences in how these participants might perceive others’ pain. They also wanted to know if that difference was due to conservative response bias—consistently rating all perceived pain lower on the pain scale—reduced perceptual sensitivity—inaccurate ratings, whether higher or lower—or both of these factors.

“We were able to break those two factors apart and tease that apart, which I think really gets at answering our questions. Do individuals who were high in psychopathic traits have an inability to see the facial expression of pain? Or if they can actually see it and just don’t care,” she says.

The study found that while people with psychopathic traits did not have a response bias—or were no more or less likely in general to ascribe pain to people—they were significantly less accurate in their ratings of pain in other people’s facial expressions.

This reduced sensitivity to other people’s pain was most associated with callous affect and antisocial behaviour. Dr. Kaseweter says this finding is not surprising, giving callous affect is related to low empathy and reduced concern for others while antisocial behaviour involves engaging in criminal acts.

The literature on psychopathy is still unclear on the underlying causes behind these facets of psychopathy, but Dr. Kaseweter says this study showed that one possible mechanism might be a reduced ability to see other people’s pain. The violence inhibition mechanism model suggests that in order to experience empathy, people have to first be able to accurately perceive someone’s distress to then withdraw from violent behaviour.

This study, she says, supports that theory.

“If they’re not accurately perceiving those facial expressions, they’d be missing the ability to identify that expression and then feel empathy and pull away from that violent behaviour.”

While psychopaths have high rates of criminal behaviour, rehabilitation efforts with current treatments for these individuals have been largely ineffective, if not at times counterproductive.

Dr. Kaseweter is hopeful that this study could help isolate an area to direct more successful treatment in the future, especially with the clarification between response bias and actual inaccuracies in pain sensitivity.

“I think it’s a very important distinction. So how do we help? Is it just that people high in psychopathic traits don’t care? Then we have to teach them empathy in a different way. Or is it that they’re not seeing facial expressions accurately? Our findings suggest the latter—and that this decreased ability to detect pain accurately may underlie the lack of empathy we see with psychopathy.

“If this is the case, then training interventions designed to improve pain detection may, in turn, reduce the callous affect and antisocial behaviour characterizing psychopathy.”

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