On the relationship of emotional abilities and prosocial behavior

Kaltwasser, Laura; Hildebrandt, Andrea; Wilhelm, Oliver; Sommer, Werner

doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.10.011

Cited by 41 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Interestingly, facial displays of sympathy were found to be positively associated with measures of empathy, sympathy, pro-social behaviour and heart rate [11, 13–15]. This is also consistent with more recent research [16] on the empathy-altruism hypothesis that stipulates a sensitivity to the emotional states of others in need drives empathic concern which in turn motivates prosocial behaviours [17, 18].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Compassionate faces: Evidence for distinctive facial expressions associated with specific prosocial motivations

et al. 2019

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Compassion is a complex cognitive, emotional and behavioural process that has important real-world consequences for the self and others. Considering this, it is important to understand how compassion is communicated. The current research investigated the expression and perception of compassion via the face. We generated exemplar images of two compassionate facial expressions induced from two mental imagery tasks with different compassionate motivations (Study 1). Our kind- and empathic compassion faces were perceived differently and the empathic-compassion expression was perceived as best depicting the general definition of compassion (Study 2). Our two composite faces differed in their perceived happiness, kindness, sadness, fear and concern, which speak to their underling motivation and emotional resonance. Finally, both faces were accurately discriminated when presented along a compassion continuum (Study 3). Our results demonstrate two perceptually and functionally distinct facial expressions of compassion, with potentially different consequences for the suffering of others.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Compassionate faces: Evidence for distinctive facial expressions associated with specific prosocial motivations

et al. 2019

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“…Our results indicated that people with higher levels of emotional intelligence showed higher levels of flourishing and happiness, supporting Hypothesis 2. This positive nexus is in line with previous studies detecting a positive contribution of emotional intelligence on promoting pro-social behaviour and sustainability [45,46], as well as on individual well-being [68].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Emotional intelligence is defined as "the ability to perceive and express emotion, assimilate emotion in thought, understand and reason with emotion, and regulate emotion in the self and in others" [43]. Several studies have revealed the main role of emotional intelligence in determining individual happiness and flourishing [44], as well as the promotion of prosocial behaviors and sustainability [45,46]. A significant correlation between the need for relatedness and both emotional perception and regulation has also been observed [47].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are More Intelligent People Happier? Emotional Intelligence as Mediator between Need for Relatedness, Happiness and Flourishing

et al. 2019

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The psychology of sustainability and sustainable development aims to study the personal characteristics that promote effective and sustainable well-being for individuals and environments from a psychological research perspective. According to the self-determination theory, the psychological need for relatedness is positively associated with happiness and flourishing. In turn, emotional intelligence, i.e., understanding and managing one’s own emotions and recognizing others’ emotions, may play a key role in this association. Therefore, the present study investigates the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between need for relatedness and both happiness and flourishing. Basic Psychological Needs scales (BPNs), Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), Flourishing Scale, and Happiness Scale were administered to 216 Italian participants (age range 15–66 years old). A mediation model via a structural equation model for path analysis was tested. The results showed that the psychological need for relatedness positively associated with both happiness and flourishing and that emotional intelligence mediated these associations. These results suggest that important interventions may be performed to promote flourishing and happiness, enhancing emotional intelligence through specific training differently from need for relatedness that, instead, can be considered substantially stable.

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“…Fearful faces signal an indirect threat in the environment, while angry faces signal a direct socio-relational threat to the receiver (Hedger et al, 2016; Juncai, Jing, & Rongb, 2017; Pichon, de Gelder, & Grèzes, 2009). Furthermore, fearful faces may be perceived as less threatening than angry faces given findings that prosocial behavior is associated with increased recognition of fearful faces (Kaltwasser, Hildebrandt, Wilhelm, & Sommer, 2017). Concerning cognitive processing, studies of healthy participants indicate that when compared to fearful faces, angry faces involve less automatic processing, requiring greater neural resources and contextual information (Juncai et al, 2017; Pichon et al, 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional contrast and psychological function impact response inhibition to threatening faces

Greif

Waring

2018

Motiv Emot

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Poor inhibitory control over negative emotional information has been identified as a possible contributor to affective disorders, but the distinct effects of emotional contrast and fearful versus angry faces on response inhibition remain unknown. In the present study, young adults completed an emotional go/no-go task involving happy, neutral, and either fearful or angry faces. Results did not reveal differences in accuracy or speed between angry and fearful face conditions. However, responses were slower and indicated poorer inhibition in blocks where threatening faces were paired with happy, versus neutral, faces. Results may reflect cognitive load of emotional valence contrast, such that higher contrast blocks (containing threatening with happy faces) produced more conflict and required more processing than lower contrast blocks (threatening with neutral faces). Preliminary findings also revealed higher anxiety and depression symptoms corresponded with slower responses and worse accuracy, consistent with patterns of adverse impacts of anxiety and depression on response inhibition to threatening faces, even at subclinical levels of symptomatology.

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On the relationship of emotional abilities and prosocial behavior

Cited by 41 publications

References 70 publications

Compassionate faces: Evidence for distinctive facial expressions associated with specific prosocial motivations

Compassionate faces: Evidence for distinctive facial expressions associated with specific prosocial motivations

Are More Intelligent People Happier? Emotional Intelligence as Mediator between Need for Relatedness, Happiness and Flourishing

Emotional contrast and psychological function impact response inhibition to threatening faces

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