Cognitive Empathy in Subtypes of Antisocial Individuals

Abstract

Cognitive empathy allows individuals to recognize and infer how others think and feel in social situations and provides a foundation for the formation and maintenance of mutually constructive relationships. It may seem intuitive to assume that individuals who engage in antisocial behavior, who disregard the rights of others, might have problems with cognitive empathy. However, careful examination of the literature suggests that any dysfunction in cognitive empathy associated with antisociality varies by subtype of antisocial individual and is specific to subcomponents of cognitive empathy. In this review, we (1) briefly define subtypes of antisocial individuals (“psychopathic” vs. “antisocial-only”), (2) summarize specific components of cognitive empathy; (3) review existing literature examining cognitive empathy through questionnaires, behavioral tasks, and neuroimaging within different antisocial subtypes; and (4) discuss the limitations of the current research and potential future directions. Individuals in the psychopathic subtype fail to implicitly engage in cognitive empathy, and potentially lack insight into this issue reflected in no self-reported problems with cognitive empathy, but show an ability to engage in cognitive empathy when explicitly required. Individuals in the antisocial-only subtype appear able to engage in cognitive empathy, showing no differences on questionnaire or behavioral tasks that tap explicit cognitive empathy, but may display subtle difficulties accurately inferring (affective theory of mind) the emotions of others. We end the review by noting areas for future research, including the need to: (1) document the patterns of equifinality that exist across levels of analysis for these antisocial subtypes; (2) examine the temporality of empathy and antisociality development; (3) carefully consider and label subcomponents of cognitive empathy in research on antisocial behavior; and (4) investigate the intersection among environmental experiences, cognitive empathy, and antisocial behavior.

Empathy and Violence in Schizophrenia and Antisocial Personality Disorder

“…Regarding types of antisociality, individuals in the psychopathic type fail to implicitly engage in cognitive empathy when explicitly required. Individuals in the antisocial-only subtype appear able to engage in cognitive empathy, showing no differences on questionnaire or behavioral tasks that tap explicit cognitive empathy, but may display subtle difficulties accurately inferring the emotions of others [ 45 ]. It has been suggested that while psychopathy may generally interfere with metacognitive abilities (including attributing a mental state to others), individuals with high levels of psychopathy do not exhibit this deficit.…”

Empathy deficit in male patients with schizophrenia and its relationships with impulsivity and premeditated violence

“…Prior researches on schizophrenia patients have demonstrated impaired emotional empathy ( 40 , 77 ). Moreover, literatures have shown a relationship between premeditated aggression and psychopathic personality traits, with premeditated aggression being more associated with the latter than impulsive aggression ( 78 , 79 ). Individuals demonstrating lack of empathy, remorse, and guilt, alongside manipulative, callous, and grandiose behaviors ( 80 , 81 ) may exhibit premeditative aggressive behavior.…”

Pathways to antisocial behavior: a framework to improve diagnostics and tailor therapeutic interventions

“…This subpopulation commit more ASB than non-psychopathic individuals (Chang et al, 2021) and ASB is more proactive, which can be seen as purposeful and motivated by a specific goal (Cima and Raine, 2009;Gillespie et al, 2018). This purposeful use of violence can possibly be ascribed to specific impairments in mentalizing, which may primarily find its roots in decreased empathy and impairments in attention (i.e., attention bottleneck).…”

“…Returning to the reciprocal altruism theory, people need the skill to act reciprocal but also the will to do so. Research indicates that people with high CU traits do not show overall mentalizing impairments ( Wilson et al, 2011 ; Chang et al, 2021 ). There is some evidence that genetic etiologies underlie these high CU traits ( Moore et al, 2019 ).…”