Empathy and Morality: Integrating Social and Neuroscience Approaches

Decety, Jean; Batson, C. Daniel

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6287-2_5

Cited by 40 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…In the current study, empathy (i.e., affective, cognitive, total) was associated with frontal lobe functioning (and particularly the left frontal lobe), consistent with several other studies (Decety & Batson, 2009; Decety & Jackson, 2004; Grattan et al, 1994; Grattan & Eslinger, 1989; Grattan & Eslinger, 1992; Rankin et al, 2005; Rankin et al, 2006; Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2004; Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2009). In general, current and previous results consistently suggest that cognitive flexibility associated with frontal lobe functioning is necessary for individuals to take the cognitive perspective of others.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…The results also support previous studies that indicate that the temporal lobes are involved in empathy (Decety & Batson, 2009; Leigh et al, 2013; Rankin et al, 2006). It has been suggested that empathy may be related to the emotional processing that has been shown to be related to both the temporal lobes and limbic system, given their close neural connectivity (Lee & Siegle, 2012; Lezak et al, 2004; Rankin et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Although the results were contrary to those hypothesized, they support others studies that suggest that relatively stronger right hemisphere functioning, and particularly RPL functioning, is related to increased empathy (Decety & Batson, 2009; Grattan & Eslinger, 1989; Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2004; Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2009). For example, Shamay-Tsoory and colleagues (2004) reported that individuals with RPL lesions, but not left parietal lobe lesions, demonstrated significantly decreased empathy.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Functional and structural indices of empathy: Evidence for self-orientation as a neuropsychological foundation of empathy.

Johnstone¹,

Cohen²,

Bryant³

et al. 2015

Neuropsychology

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Functional and structural indices of empathy: Evidence for self-orientation as a neuropsychological foundation of empathy.

Johnstone¹,

Cohen²,

Bryant³

et al. 2015

Neuropsychology

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“…EC is the automatic tendency to catch another's emotions (Hatfield et al, 1992;Hatfield et al, 1993;Mayo et al, 2022) and can be manifested as a demonstration of similar postural, vocal, or facial expression or as similar neurophysiological or neurological patterns of activity (Barsade 2002;Barsade, Coutifaris & Pillemer, 2018;Hatfield, Bensman, Thorton & Rapson, 2014;Hatfield et al, 1994;Hatfield, Raspon & Le, 2009;Schoenewolf, 1990;). EC is related to empathy, attunement, and bonding (Decety and Ickles, 2009;Hatfield et al, 1994;Hatfield et al, 2011;Neves et al, 2018;Spoors & Kelly, 2004), as well as to stress (Feldman & Kaal, 2007), and has been suggested to facilitate social interactions (Butler, 2011;Hatfield, Cacioppo, & Rapson, 1994). Individuals differ in their susceptibility to EC (Barsade et al, 2018;Doherty, 1997;Hatfield et al, 2014;Horesh et al, 2021), a process mediated by the autonomic activation of the ANS (Hatfield et al, 1993;Herrando & Constantinides, 2021;Nakahashi & Ohtsuki, 2015;Neumann & Strack, 2000;Hatfield, Bensman, Thorton & Rapson, 2014).…”

Section: Autonomic Space Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indices of The Autonomic Nervous System Predict Affect and Emotional Contagion, But Not Anxiety: A Two-Dimensional Autonomic Space Approach

Sinai

Daleski

et al. 2023

Preprint

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To date, studies focusing on the connection between psychological functioning and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity usually adopted the one-dimensional model of autonomic balance, according to which activation of one branch of the ANS is accompanied by an inhibition of the other. However, the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches also activate independently; thus, co-activation and co-inhibition may occur. The autonomic balance and regulatory capacity model accounts for such a diversity of autonomic activities. In the present study, we adopted a refinement of this model to assess how markers of the autonomic space relate to several critical psychological constructs: emotional contagion (EC), general anxiety, and positive and negative affect (PA and NA). We analyzed data from 408 healthy students, who underwent a 5-minute baseline period as part of their participation in several experiments and then completed self-reported questionnaires. During the baseline, electrocardiogram (ECG), electrodermal activity (EDA), and respiratory activity were recorded. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), as well as cross-system autonomic balance (CSAB) and regulation (CSAR), were calculated. A comparison between psychological and physiological indices revealed distinct patterns of psychological associations for each physiological index: CSAB was positively correlated with EC and negatively correlated with PA and NA. Negative associations were noted between CSAR and EC. EDA was positively correlated with PA and NA and negatively linked to EC. We thus provide support for using the two-dimensional autonomic space framework in psychophysiological research. The advantages of the autonomic balance and regulatory capacity model are discussed.

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“…The experience he describes of ‘forward panic’ involves intense emotional arousal – rage, frenzy, elation, ‘roaring down a tunnel’ and lack of control from which one might not emerge, as when rampage shooting ends in suicide of the assailant (, pp.91‐4). Further, entrainment is dependent on unconscious (subliminal) mimicry involving mirror neurones and premotor links between perception and action (Decety & Batson, , p.115). Developing complex biosocial systems of violent behaviour will enable the development of multi‐layered explanations such as that in Figure , which is discussed in the next section.…”

Section: Towards a Biosocial Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Explaining Violence ‐ Towards a Critical Friendship with Neuroscience?

Ray

2016

J Theory Soc Behav

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The neurosciences challenge the 'standard social science' model of human behaviour particularly with reference to violence. Although explanations of violence are interdisciplinary it remains controversial to work across the division between the social and biological sciences. Neuroscience can be subject to familiar sociological critiques of scientism and reductionism but this paper considers whether this view should be reassessed. Concepts of brain plasticity and epigenetics could prompt reconsideration of the dichotomy of the social and natural while raising questions about the intersections of materiality, embodiment and social action. Although violence is intimately bound up with the body, sociologies of both violence and the body remain on the surface and rarely go under the skin or skulls of violent actors. This article argues for a non-reductionist realist explanation of violent behaviour that is also interdisciplinary and offers the potential to generate nuanced understandings of violent processes. It concludes that sociology should engage critically and creatively with the neuroscience of violence.Keywords: Social science, violence, critical neuroscience, biosocial intra-actions Violence is about the body. It is enacted by bodies; it has instrumental and ritual manifestations, it creates boundaries and destroys them, as well as violating, polluting and destroying bodies. It stands at the intersection of many human sciences with differing conceptions of humanness and action yet the relationship between bodies and violent behaviour is contested. While in much of the post-War period the 'standard social science model' (SSSM) has had ascendency, over the last two decades neuroscience has challenged this and claimed jurisdiction over most facets of human behaviour, including crime, empathy, fear, impulsivity, kinship, obesity, racism, suicide, trust, love, violence, wisdom and many more (Vrecko, 2010).

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Empathy and Morality: Integrating Social and Neuroscience Approaches

Cited by 40 publications

References 73 publications

Functional and structural indices of empathy: Evidence for self-orientation as a neuropsychological foundation of empathy.

Functional and structural indices of empathy: Evidence for self-orientation as a neuropsychological foundation of empathy.

Indices of The Autonomic Nervous System Predict Affect and Emotional Contagion, But Not Anxiety: A Two-Dimensional Autonomic Space Approach

Explaining Violence ‐ Towards a Critical Friendship with Neuroscience?

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