Articles tagged with Empathy
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Researchers found that wolves experience yawn contagion, with stronger social bonds increasing frequency, and females reacting faster than males to close associates' yawns. The results suggest a common ancestral trait of contagious yawning among mammals, revealing an emotional connection between individuals.
Researchers directly compared human and bonobo yawn contagion, finding that strong relationships matter more than species for empathic responses. Humans respond more frequently to friends and kin, while bonobos do so equally, challenging the assumption that humans are more empathetic.
Research suggests that exposure to narrative fiction can enhance our ability to understand mental states and empathize with others. Studies have shown that children who read fiction regularly develop better theory-of-mind skills, while adults who engage deeply with stories report higher levels of empathy.
A new method to identify narcissistic people has been developed, using a single-item scale that can help researchers in crunch time. The Single Item Narcissism Scale (SINS) was validated in 11 experiments involving over 2,200 people and found to be reliable in identifying narcissistic individuals.
A new study found that moral identity decreases donations when recipients are deemed responsible for their plight, but empathetic responses increase donations. The researchers suggest that non-profits should focus on eliciting empathy to increase donations rather than appealing to broader moral values.
A new study challenges prevailing views of empathy's effects on moral judgment, finding that compassion can produce counterintuitive results. More compassionate people tend to oppose utilitarian choices like sacrificing one person to save many or euthanasia, suggesting a stronger sense of the sanctity of human life.
Researchers found that narcissists lack empathy, but under instruction to take another's perspective, they showed increased empathy. Perspective-taking led to physiological responses similar to those of non-narcissistic individuals, indicating a capacity for empathetic response given the right conditions.
Researchers at the University of Surrey found that narcissists can experience empathy when instructed to consider another person's perspective. This could lead to a decrease in violent and anti-social behaviors, as well as improved relationships and overall wellbeing.
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that relationship-focused training had a small but statistically significant effect on measured health outcomes in patients with conditions such as obesity and diabetes. The study suggests that a good patient-clinician relationship can produce health effects similar to some common t...
Research suggests that a leader must be either analytical or empathetic, but not both at the same time. However, recent studies from Case Western Reserve University reveal that this distinction has a foundation in our brains, which allows us to switch between the two modes.
A comprehensive study found that contagious yawning decreases with age and is not strongly related to variables like empathy or energy levels. However, age was the most important predictor of contagious yawning, accounting for only 8% of variability in the response.
Researchers Matthew Campbell and Frans de Waal found chimpanzees display contagious yawning to familiar and unfamiliar humans, but not to unfamiliar chimpanzees or gelada baboons. This flexibility in empathy may help explain how humans choose to engage with others and offer flexibility.
A Northwestern University study found that the amount of eye contact a doctor makes is the most important factor in patient perception of empathy. Patients also gave doctors higher scores when they engaged in social touches like handshakes or pats on the back, but excessive touches decreased empathy.
A new study found that children with stronger empathy skills are better at recognizing sarcasm. Children began to detect sarcasm between ages 6 and 8, but some took longer to develop this skill. Empathy skills were measured using eye gaze and reaction time during a task that required recognizing sarcastic language.
A neuroimaging study found that individuals with psychopathy fail to activate brain areas associated with empathy and concern for others when imagining others in pain. This atypical pattern of activation suggests that psychopaths may not care for others, but could be triggered into emotional response through cognitive-behavior therapies.
A University of Virginia study found that brain regions responsible for threat response become active when a friend is threatened, similar to when the individual themselves is under threat. This suggests that people closely correlate people they are attached to with their own selves, forming empathy and understanding.
A new study found that people exhibit more empathy towards battered puppies and full-grown dogs than adults, but not children. The research, which considered the opinions of 240 college students, revealed that age is a key factor in eliciting empathy.
A brain imaging study found that individuals with psychopathy can activate their empathy when asked, but struggle to do so spontaneously. This challenges the notion that psychopaths are incapable of feeling emotions.
A new study suggests that suspending humanity through objectification can prevent war crimes, while dehumanizing others evokes disgust and disempathy. By understanding the brain's workings in these situations, researchers aim to develop a more effective military strategy that minimizes harm.
Researchers discover that moral judgment is associated with feelings of warmth and compassion towards someone in distress, specifically reduced empathic concern in utilitarian responders. The study shows that empathy is not the primary driver of moral decision-making, but rather a diminished emotional response.
Researchers found that humans exhibit similar emotional reactions when watching videos of robots being treated affectionately or violently, as they do when viewing the same actions towards humans. This discovery has implications for the development of more empathetic and engaging robotic systems.
A recent study found that physicians built less emotional rapport with overweight patients than those of normal weight. This can lead to ineffective care and poorer patient outcomes. The researchers emphasized the importance of empathy in building trust and motivating patients to make lifestyle changes.
A study found that natural disasters can alter children's altruistic giving, with 9-year-olds showing increased willingness to give and 6-year-olds becoming more selfish. The research suggests that empathy plays a key role in this development, with older children better able to regulate their emotions and act pro-socially.
Researchers at Stanford University found that playing Superman-like flight in a virtual reality simulation increased altruistic behavior in individuals. In contrast, helicopter-riding participants took longer to offer help. The study suggests designing games that promote empathy and altruism could have real-world benefits.
Researchers found juvenile bonobos (ages 3-7) displayed more consolation behavior than adults, suggesting sensitivity to emotions emerges early without advanced thought processes. Bonobos raised by their biological mothers showed higher comfort levels towards others.
A study of over 75,000 adults found that late middle-aged adults, particularly women, report higher levels of emotional reactivity and perspective-taking. This inverted U-shaped pattern suggests a potential link between age-related cognitive changes and empathy.
A Michigan State University research team discovered that doctors who listen carefully to their patients have happier patients with better health outcomes. The study found that patient-centered relationships reduce brain activity in the anterior insula, a region responsible for pain perception, and lead to lower self-reported pain levels.
A study from Lund University found that dogs under 7 months are immune to contagious yawning, but as they age, they start to mimic human yawns, indicating a developmental increase in empathy. This pattern is similar to human development, suggesting that empathy-based social modulatory effects emerge later in life.
A compassion-based meditation program can improve a person's ability to read facial expressions, finds a study published by Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. The Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) program significantly increased neural activity in areas of the brain important for empathy.
A large-scale study confirms that empathic physician-patient relationships are associated with better clinical outcomes, including lower hospitalization rates and fewer complications. The study analyzed data from over 20,000 diabetic patients and 242 physicians in Italy.
A new study by MU researcher Gustavo Carlo found that empathetic adolescents are more likely to use problem-focused coping, which aims to reduce stress. They also tend to perform prosocial behaviors that benefit others, while emotionally unstable teens rely on emotion-focused coping tactics.
A brief training program led by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers improved residents' empathy with patients, contrary to previous studies. The study found that participating residents showed significant improvement in patient ratings of their empathic behavior and knowledge of the mechanisms underlying empathy.
Brown capuchin monkeys demonstrate empathetic perspective-taking by withholding food from a fellow monkey who has just eaten, suggesting they understand their physical needs. The study provides first evidence for this behavior in primates.
A new study published by the American Psychological Association found that relationship satisfaction is linked to men's ability to read their female partner's positive emotions correctly. Women who correctly understood that their partners were upset during an incident reported being happier in their relationships.
A study by MIT researchers Emile Bruneau and Rebecca Saxe found that brain regions responding to emotional suffering overlap with areas involved in perceiving another person's thoughts or feelings. However, empathy levels did not correlate with brain activity, suggesting more research is needed.
A study published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making found that people tend to overestimate their willingness to engage in embarrassing public performances. However, inducing immediate emotions can help reduce this illusion of courage. The research has practical implications for understanding human behavior and decision-making.
Neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp argues that animals, including rats and mice, have emotional experiences and share core emotional functions with humans. This research could lead to a better understanding of human emotions and develop more effective treatments for psychiatric disorders.
A new study by University of Chicago neuroscientists finds that rats exhibit empathy-driven helping behavior in a laboratory setting. The rats free their cagemates from restraint, even when given the option to eat chocolate instead. This observation suggests that empathy is not unique to humans and may be an evolutionary adaptation.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that yawn contagion is linked to social empathy, with family members and close friends triggering the most responses. The researchers identified a pattern of empathy similar to other measures, suggesting that yawn contagion occurs due to our natural inclination to connect with others
A new interactive training tool developed by a Duke University researcher has been shown to increase empathic responses from oncologists and improve patient trust. The computer-based tutorial provides feedback on recorded visits with patients, offering an alternative to expensive courses.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that watching a person from a different race perform actions reduces implicit prejudice. By mimicking these movements, individuals can activate brain mechanisms contributing to empathy and lower their levels of prejudice.
A new study from Carnegie Mellon University and Duke University found that advisers give more biased advice when dealing with multiple anonymous recipients, especially if they don't know the recipient's name. The study also showed that single, identified recipients receive more empathetic and unbiased advice.
A new project led by University of Chicago researcher Jean Decety will use fMRI technology to examine the neural circuitry of criminal psychopaths in prisons. The research aims to identify the brain networks necessary for empathy and develop targeted therapies.
A USC study reveals that empathetic responses are generated by both the sensory-motor and rationalizing parts of the brain. The research found that even individuals with physical differences can understand pain in a different limb due to automatic brain processes.
Researchers found that when people are reminded of money, they perceive mimicry as a threat to their personal freedom, leading them to respond antagonistically. This could have important implications for social bonding and forming interpersonal relationships.
A new study reveals a link between physiological responses to anger and emotional empathy deficits after traumatic brain injury. Researchers found that individuals with severe TBI were less responsive to angry faces and had lower emotional empathy abilities, which was associated with reduced physiological responses.
A recent study from Psychology of Women Quarterly identifies forms of subtle sexism that go unnoticed by both men and women, including using gendered language. Noticing these acts can change people's attitudes and reduce sexist beliefs. The study highlights the importance of empathy in men to address sexist behavior.
A recent study by Johns Hopkins researchers found a positive association between key developmental assets (self-esteem, autonomy, and empathy) and measures of sexual pleasure among young adults. The findings suggest that these assets may enable individuals to experience higher levels of sexual pleasure, particularly in men.
Researchers found that observing someone's flaw leads to neural activations similar to physical pain, positively correlated with observers' empathic abilities. The study suggests a distinction between forms of empathy, highlighting the role of representation in social emotions.
Research at Yerkes National Primate Research Center finds chimpanzees yawn more after watching familiar chimps, suggesting underlying empathy. The study proposes that contagious yawning can be used as a measure of empathy in both humans and animals.
Scientists discover chimpanzees yawn more when watching familiar chimps than strangers, suggesting an underlying mechanism for empathy. The findings support the idea that contagious yawning is a measure of empathy and may be influenced by social biases.
A new study found that empathy significantly reduces racial bias in pain treatment, with a 98% decrease in treatment disparities for college students and a 55% decrease among nurses. By asking participants to imagine their patients' feelings, the researchers were able to mitigate unconscious biases.
A landmark study by Thomas Jefferson University researchers found a direct association between physicians' empathy and their patients' positive clinical outcomes. The study, published in Academic Medicine, suggests that empathic engagement in patient care contributes to better treatment adherence and more desirable clinical results.
A Spanish study found that women are more empathetic and better at forgiving than men. The research also showed that parents forgive more than children, with lack of bitterness being the key condition for forgiveness.
A study found that consumers are more likely to react negatively to poor service from a friend than a business associate. The researchers suggest that this is because people in friendships expect their partners to be concerned about them, and when this expectation is not met, it can lead to feelings of betrayal.
A new study from University of Cambridge found that testosterone administration negatively affects women's ability to mind read, an indication of empathy. The effects are predicted by a fetal marker of prenatal testosterone, the 2D:4D ratio.
A study published in CMAJ found that showing clinical empathy to patients can improve their satisfaction of care and motivate them to stick to their treatment plans. Empathy is a distinct ability to understand another's experience and act in a helpful manner, which can be acquired and taught in medical school.
The Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania has awarded $2.9 million to 15 researchers exploring the intersection of neuroscience and positive psychology. The grants focus on topics such as neural mechanisms of human flourishing, altruism, and the effects of positive interventions on the brain.
The program enhances caregivers' beliefs about empathy and improves their ability to cope with psychosocial demands. It also fosters deeper relationships with patients, leading to significant benefits for everyone involved.
A new Northwestern University study finds that African-Americans show greater empathy for other African-Americans facing adversity than Caucasians do for Caucasian-Americans. The study suggests that identifying with a racial group can dramatically change one's ability to feel and respond to the pain of another person.