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

Abstract

Contrary to hypotheses, empathy appears to be associated with increased RPL functioning. It is suggested that to incorporate the experiences of others into the experience of the self (i.e., to be empathetic), one must have an intact sense of the self.

The role of identity instability in the relationship between narcissism and emotional empathy.

“…Indeed, differently from cognitive empathic abilities through which people can understand and identify others' affect states, being emotionally involved with others is grounded in the ability to incorporate the experiences of others into the experience of the self. In line with Johnstone et al (2015), our results showed that identity instability has a key role in emotional empathy but not in cognitive empathy. In particular, the present study highlights that an unstable inner experience of self and others might explain why individuals high in narcissism report low levels of emotional engagement with others' affect states.…”

“…Confirming our hypotheses, results showed that individuals with high narcissistic traits report low empathic reactivity toward others’ affect states partially because of instability of self- and other-representations. Johnstone et al (2015) have recently highlighted the role of the quality of sense of self in increasing emotional empathic capabilities (but not cognitive ones). The authors have found that an increase in the activity of the right parietal lobe (RPL), which is involved in managing processes of self-awareness, is generally associated with increased emotional empathy.…”

“…Empirical literature has recently emphasized the role of identity integration and stability as prerequisites for the development of emotional empathic capabilities such as empathic concern and emotion reactivity (Bateman, & Fonagy, 2004a, 2004b; Fonagy, Gergely, Jurist, & Target, 2002; Lewis, 2002; Steele, 2009). Moreover, Johnstone, Cohen, Bryant, Glass, and Christ (2015) have recently shown that a stronger sense of self is needed to determine mature emotional empathic responses when observing others in situations evoking negative emotional states. As suggested by the authors (Johnstone et al, 2015), having a stable sense of self allows individuals to incorporate the experiences of others into the experience of the self, retaining self-control.…”

“…Moreover, Johnstone, Cohen, Bryant, Glass, and Christ (2015) have recently shown that a stronger sense of self is needed to determine mature emotional empathic responses when observing others in situations evoking negative emotional states. As suggested by the authors (Johnstone et al, 2015), having a stable sense of self allows individuals to incorporate the experiences of others into the experience of the self, retaining self-control.…”

Multidimensional assessment of empathic abilities in patients with insular glioma

“…This process involves perspective taking and theory of mind, and has been revealed to be dependent upon cognitive processes (Decety & Jackson, 2004;Decety, 2011;Shamay-Tsoory, 2011;Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2004;Walter, 2012). Perspective taking can be further subdivided into affective perspective taking (i.e., perspective taking to understand affect) and cognitive perspective taking (perspective taking to understand cognition) (Decety, & Jackson, 2004;Johnstone, Cohen, Bryant, Glass, & Christ, 2015;Lamm & Majdandzic, 2015;Sebastian et al, 2012). Furthermore, neuroimaging and psychological research show that theory of mind and CE are also different.…”