In- and Out-Group Effects on Social Perception and Empathy in Cocaine Use Disorder

Abstract

Earlier research revealed that cocaine users display impairments in emotional but not necessarily in cognitive empathy. However, no study to date has tested whether empathy is generally altered or whether impairments are restricted to specific social targets. The current investigation addresses this open question. In addition, we examined whether attributions of warmth and competence as well as personal future expectancies differed between cocaine users and substance-naïve controls. Twenty-two chronic cocaine users and 40 stimulant-naïve controls specified their perceived warmth and competence for four social targets [in-group member, opposite consumption out-group member (cocaine user for controls and non-user for cocaine user), opposite consumption out-group member of opposite gender, and elderly person]. They also specified their cognitive and emotional empathy for these four targets facing eight desirable and eight undesirable events. Finally, they rated the likelihood of these scenarios happening to themselves. Both cocaine users and controls attributed lower warmth to cocaine-using than non-using targets. Comparably, no in-group preference was observed in cocaine user’s emotional empathy ratings, and greater denigration of the in-group was associated with higher frequency and doses of cocaine consumption. In addition, cocaine users rated both desirable and undesirable events as more likely to happen to themselves than did controls. Results show that substance-naïve individuals stigmatize cocaine users. They further point to compromised self-esteem in cocaine users resulting from such stigmatization. Interventions should address stigmatization processes to break the vicious circle of mutual social distancing and stronger dedication to the drug.

Asymmetrical Update of Beliefs About Future Outcomes is Driven by Outcome Valence and Social Group Membership

“…A more likely possibility, therefore, is that respondents are motivated to think about the extreme out-group members as having restricted access to positive resources (Cuddy et al, 2007(Cuddy et al, , 2008, but they are not motivated enough to imagine them in worse-than-already-imagined predicaments. Consistent with this pattern, individuals reveal reduced empathy with alcoholics for positive but not for negative events for similar observations regarding cocaine use, see Aue et al, 2022). We note that participants already expected more negative than positive outcomes to happen to these individuals (Dricu et al, 2018; see also Supplementary Analysis S3).…”

“…These findings in combination with earlier research output Dricu et al, 2018) reveal strong discrimination effects toward vulnerable social groups such as substance abusers: We already expect less good/worse outcomes for these targets than for in-group targets or out-group targets we like, we display less empathy toward them, and we are resistant to update our negative view of them. Moreover, unfavourable discrimination as revealed in social beliefs, their updating, and associated empathic responding may feed back to these stigmatized groups and trigger unfortunate self-discrimination processes that induce mental and physical problems (Aue et al, 2022;Matthews et al, 2017;Young et al, 2005). It hence will be very interesting to test whether substance abusers compared with controls show an inversed pattern of belief update asymmetry for their in-group.…”

Beyond the Brain: Behavioral Sociomics and the Future of Psychiatry

“…Promising preliminary data from our laboratory show that, for example, empathy skills, social behavior, and impulsivity can partially recover under abstinence in chronic cocaine users (9,10). Note that "consequence of use" does not necessarily mean "substance-induced", but could also mean a process of selfstigmatization, as recent data from cocaine users suggest (12).…”

Tacrolimus monitoring in hair samples of kidney transplant recipients

“…In forensic toxicology, retrospective quantification of chemicals in hair samples has gained widespread acceptance. Chemicals such as cocaine ( 18 ), ethyl glucuronide ( 19 ), and delta9-THC ( 20 ) are quantified to confirm abstinence in patients who are recovering from addiction ( 21 , 22 ). Furthermore, long-term medication monitoring in hair is feasible, accurate, and predictive in specific clinical settings.…”