Empathy Deficits Research Articles

Empathy! So What?

The paper deals with the concept of empathy applied in the contemplative experiment to understand the suffering of the victims of the war in Ukraine. I discuss the concept of empathy in the phenomenological perspective and symbolic interactionists’ view. I needed this discussion to frame the conclusions from the contemplative experiment I did with my students. I used the contemplative methods of research. The students did self-observations and self-reports on their lived experiences while observing photos of the victims and refugees from Ukraine. Breathing exercises (pranayama) were practiced between different self-observations to clean the minds and release tensions. At the end of the experiment, the students were also asked about the empathy deficit in contemporary society, and provided comments on it. Finally, I concluded how empathy is evoked and embodied, and I answered the question about whether it is possible to be empathetic toward people in a totally different and traumatic situation. I end with the statement that empathy is a direct reaction to the condition of the suffering of other people. However, it is also socially-framed. I conclude that it could be socially-developed to cope with an empathy deficit.

Empathy Deficits in Individuals Convicted of a Sexual Offense: A Systematic Literature Review

ABSTRACT There is much debate over whether or not individuals convicted of a sexual offense (ICSOs) display empathy deficits, and more specifically what type of deficits. This systematic review aims to identify the empathy deficits exhibited by this population in comparison to offending and non-offending populations. Thirty-four studies were included. Results were inconsistent concerning general, cognitive and affective empathy. However, ICSOs tend to display deficits toward victims of sexual violence, especially their own. Whilst empathy deficits may be a risk factor, the presence of empathy may act as a protective factor. Nonetheless, further robust and systematic research is needed.

Relationship between the Broader Autism Phenotype and empathy among students

Previous research has shown that persons with a higher level of the broad autism phenotype (BAP) experience deficits in empathy. The aim of the present study is to investigate a multivariate relationship between the BAP and different aspects of empathy. In a sample of 293 university students, we explored the relationship between the BAP and the following aspects of empathy: fantasy, empathic concern, perspective taking, and personal distress. The BAP level was measured using The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used for multidimensional assessment of empathy disposition. Canonical correlation analysis yielded two functions (Function 1 ̶ Rc2 = 17.31%, Function 2 ̶ Rc2 = 10.82%). In Function 1, IRI subscales Personal Distress (PD) (rs = .92) and Perspective Taking (PT) (rs = -.39) are associated significantly with all three domains of the BAP. The strongest correlation PD and PT show with Rigid and Pragmatic Language domains of the BAP, while they demonstrate a weaker relationship with the Aloofness domain. In Function 2, IRI subscales Empathic Concern (EC) (rs = -.98), Fantasy (FS) (rs = -.46), PT (rs = -.43) and PD (rs = -.31) are related to the Aloofness domain of the BAP. The results imply that the relationship between BAP and empathy differs for different aspects of these two constructs. The more detailed understanding of the relationship between BAP and empathy obtained through the multivariate approach provides a basis from which to create programs for the more efficient promotion of empathy skills.

Difficulties in facial emotion recognition: taking psychopathic and alexithymic traits into account

BackgroundAlexithymic and psychopathic traits are closely associated, but distinct constructs. Both have been associated with facial emotion processing deficits reflecting empathy deficits, however the underlying mechanism contributing to these deficits is not well-understood.MethodsThis study investigated facial emotion recognition performance in a non-clinical sample (N = 110) including both male and female participants, with varying levels of psychopathic and alexithymic traits. Facial emotion recognition was assessed using a computerized task, that presented different expressions depicting five emotional states (pain, fear, sadness, anger, happiness) and neutral expressions.ResultsResults suggest that the high psychopathic traits group reported lower accuracy compared to the low psychopathic traits group, indicating a more generalized deficit in facial affect recognition, across all emotions. The alexithymic groups (high vs. low) on the other hand did not differ in their performance on the task for any of the emotions presented.ConclusionThese findings add to the current body of research regarding face processing categorization deficits in relation to psychopathic and alexithymic traits and can inform prevention and intervention efforts that aim to facilitate facial emotion recognition in individuals with these personality traits.

The Lack of Alterations in Metabolites in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Amygdala, but Their Associations with Autistic Traits, Empathy, and Personality Traits in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Preliminary Study

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has shown inconsistent alterations in brain metabolites of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigated brain metabolites in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala of 24 drug-naive adults with ASD and no intellectual disability and 24 non-ASD control subjects, using 3 T 1H-MRS. Adults with ASD showed no significant differences from control in glutamate, glutamate plus glutamine, N-acetylaspartate, glycerophosphorylcholine plus phosphorylcholine, creatine plus phosphocreatine, or myo-inositol in either region. However, ASD subjects did show significant correlations of localized brain metabolites with autistic traits, empathy deficits, and personality traits using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and NEO Personality Inventory-Revised. These findings should be taken as preliminary or exploratory.

Autism as emergent and transactional.

The current epistemology of autism as a phenotype derives from the consistency of historical accounts and decades of work within the tradition of descriptive epidemiology, culminating in current categorical descriptions within DSM and ICD nosologies and the concept of “prototypical autism.” The demonstrated high heritability of this phenotype has led to an essentialist theory of autism as a biological entity and the concerted search within the developmental brain and genetic science for discrete biological markers. This search has not revealed simple markers explaining autistic outcomes and has led to moves towards a more dimensional account. This article proposes an alternative transactional approach. It proposes to understand autistic states as an emergent property within a complex developmental system; as the neurodivergent brain, and mind and body, encounter their social and physical environment within early development. Key evidence in support of this approach comes from random allocation intervention trials based on such transactional development theory, both in the infancy pre-diagnostic prodrome and the early post-diagnostic period. In replicated evidence, these intervention trials show that a targeted alteration in the quality of social transactional environment available for the child leads to significant, predictable, and sustained alterations in the outcome dimensional autistic phenotype over time; and further, in one prodromal trial, to a significant reduction in later categorical classification status. The inference from this evidence is that the prototypical autistic phenotype is to a degree malleable with a changed experienced social environment and that it is emergent from its constituent traits. Such a transactional approach enlarges our notion of the phenotype and brings the study of autism within mainstream individual difference developmental science. It challenges essentialist views, for instance as to intrinsic autistic “social avoidance” or theory of mind empathy deficits, integrates dimensional and categorical perspectives, and is consistent with the lived experience of autistic people and their advocacy for improved understanding within a social model.

PC031 / #564 NEUROMODULATORY THERAPY APPROACHES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: ORAL POSTER PRESENTATIONS FIVE BEST ABSTRACTS

Autism spectrum disorder is (ASD) characterized by a persisting triad of impairments of social interaction, language as well as inflexible, stereotyped and ritualistic behaviors. Social-emotional shortcomings are often related to deficits in empathy, i.e. the ability to put understand and empathize with what they are thinking or feeling (e.g. yourself in someone else’s shoes). Scientific evidence suggests a neurobiological basis of these emotional, social and cognitive deficits in individuals with ASD.

Effects of emotional valence and intensity on cognitive and affective empathy after insula lesions.

The insula plays a central role in empathy. However, the complex structure of cognitive (CE) and affective empathy (AE) deficits following insular damage is not fully understood. In the present study, patients with insular lesions (n = 20) and demographically matched healthy controls (n = 24) viewed ecologically valid videos that varied in terms of valence and emotional intensity. The videos showed a person (target) narrating a personal life event. In CE conditions, subjects continuously rated the affective state of the target, while in AE conditions, they continuously rated their own affect. Mean squared error (MSE) assessed deviations between subject and target ratings. Patients differed from controls only in negative, low-intensity AE, rating their own affective state less negative than the target. This deficit was not related to trait empathy, neuropsychological or clinical parameters, or laterality of lesion. Empathic functions may be widely spared after insular damage in a naturalistic, dynamic setting, potentially due to the intact interpretation of social context by residual networks outside the lesion. The particular role of the insula in AE for negative states may evolve specifically in situations that bear higher uncertainty pointing to a threshold role of the insula in online ratings of AE.

Deviant Peer Affiliation: A Newly Verified Mechanism by Which Violent Video Game Exposure Affect Aggressive and Prosocial Behavior.

Past research has provided abundant evidence that violent video game exposure (VVGE) increases aggressive behavior and decreases prosocial behavior. So far, these effects have been explained mainly as resulting from changes in the existing knowledge structures of cognition, affect, or personality, such as desensitization to violence, empathy deficits, or impulsivity deficits. Following the extended General Aggression Model (GAM), the present research examined the role of deviant peer affiliation in VVGE's effects on aggressive and prosocial behavior. A total of 2,152 (46.4 percent male) Chinese children and adolescents completed a self-reported scale for VVGE, deviant peer affiliation, trait aggression, and prosocial behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results showed that deviant peer affiliation mediated the effects of VVGE, thus supporting the new paths of GAM and broadening the current understanding of the consequences of VVGE.

Mirror neurons and empathy-related regions in psychopathy: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and a working model

ABSTRACT Mirror neurons have been associated with empathy. People with psychopathic traits present low levels of empathy. To analyze this, a systematic review of fMRI studies of people with psychopathic traits during an emotional facial expression processing task was performed. The regions of interest were structures associated with the mirror neuron system: ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), inferior parietal lobe (IPL), inferior frontal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus. The analysis was also extended to structures related to affective empathy (insula, amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex) and to two more emotional processing areas (orbitofrontal cortex and fusiform gyrus). Hypoactivation was more frequently observed in regions of the mirror neuron system from people with high psychopathic traits, as well as in the emotional processing structures, and those associated with affective empathy, except for the insula, where it presented higher activity. Differences were observed for all types of emotions. The results suggest that the mirror neuron system is altered in psychopathy and their relationship with affective empathy deficits is discussed.

Empathy for a Black Woman Victim of Police Sexual Violence: The Roles of Crime-Related Stress and Stereotype Attributions.

Police sexual violence has been ranked as the second most common form of misconduct among police officers. Moreover, there is evidence that Black women are at heightened risk of being victims of such police violence. A report titled Say Her Name: Resisting Police Brutality Against Black Women has brought international attention to the minimal empirical focus on such police violence toward Black women. To address this lacuna in the literature, using an incident of police sexual assault of a woman, we assessed whether victim's race and participants' level of crime-related stress (i.e., stress due to crime victimization) would influence empathic responding toward the victim. Prolific participants (N = 411) first completed a measure of crime-related stress. They then read an article describing a White police officer's sexual assault of a Black or White woman. Next, participants completed a racial stereotype-related measure (i.e., Black women's higher sexual proclivity) and a stereotype-unrelated measure (i.e., perceived victim untrustworthiness), and reported their victim-directed empathic responding. At high stress levels, participants reported less empathy for the Black (relative to White) victim. At low stress levels, there was greater Black victim-directed empathy. The race effects on empathy were mediated by heightened attribution of Black women-related stereotypical beliefs to the Black victim at high stress levels and by diminished attribution at low stress levels. In sum, we addressed the lacuna in the literature on police sexual violence against Black women while providing evidence that stress can play a critical role in the occurrence of the oft-cited outgroup-directed empathy deficit.

Neural mechanisms underlying empathy during alcohol abstinence: evidence from connectome-based predictive modeling.

Empathy impairments have been linked to alcohol dependence even during abstinent periods. Nonetheless, the neural underpinnings of abstinence-induced empathy deficits remain unclear. In this study, we employed connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) by using whole brain resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) to predict empathy capability of abstinent alcoholics (n = 47) versus healthy controls (n = 59). In addition, the generalizability of the predictive model (i.e., one group treated as a training dataset and another one treated as a test dataset) was performed to determine whether healthy controls and abstinent alcoholics share common neural fingerprints of empathy. Our results showed that abstinent alcoholics relative to healthy controls had decreased empathy capacity. Although no predictive models were observed in the abstinence group, we found that individual empathy scores in the healthy group can be reliably predicted by functional connectivity from the default mode network (DMN) to the sensorimotor network (SMN), occipital network, and cingulo-opercular network (CON). Moreover, the identified connectivity fingerprints of healthy controls could be generalized to predict empathy in the abstinence group. These findings indicate that neural circuits accounting for empathy may be disrupted by alcohol use and the impaired degree varies greatly among abstinent individuals. The large inter-individual variation may impede identification of the predictive model of empathy in alcohol abstainers.

Hormonal Profile in Response to an Empathic Induction Task in Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence: Oxytocin/Testosterone Ratio and Social Cognition.

Empathy deficits have been proposed to be an important factor for intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV perpetrators have shown a differential change in salivary oxytocin (sOXT), testosterone (sT), and cortisol (sC), following empathic and stress tasks, compared to non-violent men. However, the influence of empathic deficits in those hormones after an emotion-induction task in IPV perpetrators remains unclear. We analyzed the effects of an empathic induction task on endogenous sOXT, sT and sC levels, as well as their hormonal ratios, in IPV perpetrators (n = 12), and compared them to controls (n = 12). Additionally, we explored the predictive capacity of empathy-related functions (measured with the interpersonal reactivity index) in the hormonal responses to the task. IPV perpetrators presented lower sOXT changes and higher total sT levels than controls after the task, lower sOXT/T change and total sOXT/T levels, as well as higher total sT/C levels. Notably, for all participants, the lower the perspective taking score, the lower the total sOXT levels and sOXT changes and the higher the sT changes were. Low perspective taking also predicted smaller sOXT/T and sOXT/C changes in the empathic induction task, and higher total sT/C levels for all participants. Therefore, our results could contribute to furthering our ability to focus on new therapeutic targets, increasing the effectiveness of intervention programs and helping to reduce IPV recidivism in the medium term.

Impaired empathic functioning in chronic depression: Behavioral evidence for the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) model

The Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) model proposes preoperational functioning as a core feature of persistent depressive disorders (PDD). Empathy deficits comprise one aspect. Resulting from childhood maltreatment, empathy deficits may aggravate social isolation, a key factor in the maintenance of depression. CBASP targets empathy by teaching patients to disengage from past experiences and to engage successfully in present social interactions. However, behavioral evidence for empathy deficits in PDD has remained elusive. We reasoned that deficits become apparent only under stress and that these deficits improve after CBASP-treatment.Twenty-two patients and 21 controls performed two parallel versions of the Multifaceted Empathy Test. For stress induction, a negative autobiographical event was presented before performing the task. A neutral event served as control. Fifteen patients performed the experiment twice, before and after a 12-week inpatient CBASP-treatment.Supporting our hypotheses, patients showed reduced empathy under stress, while no group difference was found in the absence of stress. Reduced empathy correlated with the level of re-experiencing negative memories. Pre-post-treatment comparison revealed that the stress-induced empathy deficit improved in patients over time. Post-treatment empathic capacity correlated positively with clinical improvement.Our findings provide empirical support for the CBASP model, but highlight an important new aspect: Empathy is not generally deficient in PDD but becomes impaired under stress. In real-life situations, stress-induced empathy impairments may exacerbate interpersonal conflicts. CBASP's interpersonal focus improved empathy, accompanied by clinical improvement as the model predicts.

Meta-analysis of associations between empathy and alcohol use and problems in clinical and non-clinical samples.

To (1) measure the aggregated effect size of empathy deficits in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) compared with healthy controls, (2) measure the aggregated effect sizes for associations between lower empathy and heavier alcohol consumption and more alcohol problems in non-clinical samples and (3) identify potential moderators on the variability of effect sizes across studies in these meta-analyses. PsycINFO, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched following a pre-registered International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) protocol (CRD42021225392) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. We meta-analyzed (using random-effects models) mean differences in empathy between individuals with AUD compared with healthy controls and associations between empathy and alcohol consumption and alcohol problems in non-clinical samples. A total of 714 participants were included in the meta-analysis on clinical samples; 3955 were included in the meta-analyses on non-clinical samples. Individuals with AUD reported significantly lower empathy than healthy controls [Hedges' g = -0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.91, -0.16, k = 9, P < 0.01, Q = 40.09, I2 = 80.04]. Study quality [Q = 1.88, degrees of freedom (d.f.) = 1, P = 0.17] and gender (β = -0.006, Z = -0.60, P = 0.55) were not moderators. Increases in age corresponded to an increase in effect size (β = 0.095, Z = 3.34, P < 0.001). Individuals with AUD (versus healthy controls) had significantly lower cognitive (Hedges' g = -0.44, CI = -0.79, -0.10, P < 0.05), but not affective empathy (Hedges' g = -0.19, CI = -0.51, 0.14, P = 0.27), and the difference between these was significant (Z = 2.34, k = 6, P < 0.01). In non-clinical samples, individuals with lower (versus higher) empathy reported heavier alcohol consumption (r = -0.12, CI = -0.15, -0.09, k = 11, P < 0.001, Q = 9.68, I2 = 0.00) and more alcohol problems (r = -0.08, CI = -0.14, -0.01, k = 7, P = 0.021, Q = 6.55, I2 = 8.34). There was no significant heterogeneity across studies. Individuals with alcohol use disorder appear to show deficits in empathy compared with healthy controls. Deficits are particularly pronounced for older individuals and for cognitive (versus affective) empathy. In non-clinical samples, lower empathy appears to be associated with heavier alcohol consumption and more alcohol problems.

Structure of darkness: The Dark Triad, the ‘Dark’ Empathy and the ‘Dark’ Narcissism

While it is universally agreed that empathy deficit is a necessary condition for the dark roster membership, the literature provides no consensus regarding differential associations between individual Dark Triad traits with cognitive and affective empathy. With this in mind, we have investigated topology of the network consisting of Affective and Cognitive Measure of Empathy, Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire, and Short Dark Triad traits (SD3). The network analysis disclosed cohesive configuration of multiply connected study variables, thus confirming their aversive coaction. Two main axes of study variables were identified: the ‘dark’ affective dissonance-rivalry-psychopathy axis, and the ‘brighter’ admiration-SD3 narcissism axis; each characterized by its specific manifestation of empathic deficit. Affective dissonance was the most central while affective resonance was the most redundant node of the network. Rivalry — a node connecting the two axes — had the greatest strength in the network and was closer to affective dissonance than to psychopathy. Involvement of affective dissonance uncovered the dual nature of Machiavellianism by shifting it away from psychopathy and closer to narcissism. Overall, by use of structural information not accessible by other means, this study substantiates the proposition about the essential role of distinct empathic deficits in the constellation of antagonistic traits.

Is Alexithymia the Link Between Anorexia and Autism Spectrum Disorders?

ObjectiveAlexithymia main features include deficits in empathy, emotion recognition and regulation. Alexithymia has been recently proposed as a potential key to explain the presence of the so-called ‘autistic spectrum disorder’ signs (ASD), in patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Objective of this review is to summarize current knowledge on the potential role of alexithymia in linking ASD and AN.MethodA systematic search has been conducted on PUBMED database of the last 10 years, in accordance with PRISMA Guidelines, applying queries in the ‘PubMed Advanced Search Builder’.ResultsWe initially retrieved 18 papers; the final selection has led to seven papers. According to the available studies, alexithymia is widely represented in samples of AN patients and comorbid ASD traits. However, the specific load of alexithymia in AN with ASD features is still in debate, as well as the potential role of interoceptive deficits. We have found several limitations in the reviewed studies, which shared a cross-sectional design, with no comparison between a pre and a post-treatment condition (except for one study), small samples sizes and some heterogeneity of administered instruments.Conclusionsthe specific load of alexithymia in explaining the link between AN and ASD is still in debate. Interoception deficit has been proposed as having a crucial role. Further research should be devoted to longitudinal studies and not only to cross-sectional observations.

P412. PerspectiVR: Testing a Virtual Reality Intervention to Improve Social Perspective Taking for Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Children with disruptive behavior disorders often have poor social perspective-taking skills, which contributes to deficits in empathy and prosocial behavior. To address these problems in an innovative manner, we are conducting a clinical trial with 90 children aged 9-12 with a disruptive behavior disorder. We developed virtual reality (VR) technology that aims to improve social perspective-taking by enabling youth to inhabit both perspectives of virtual social interactions.

Unravelling neural correlates of empathy deficits in Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease

Empathy is the ability to understand (cognitive empathy) and to feel (affective empathy) what others feel. The aim of the study was to assess empathy deficit and neuronal correlates in Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) dementia. Twenty-four SCD, 41 MCI and 46 CE patients were included. Informer-rated Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used to explore cognitive (Perspective Taking-PT, Fantasy-FT) and affective (Empathic Concern-EC, Personal Distress-PD) empathy, before (T0) and after (T1) cognitive symptoms’ onset. Emotion recognition ability was tested through Ekman-60 Faces Test. Cerebral FDG-PET SPM analysis was used to explore neural correlates underlying empathy deficits. FT-T1 scores were lower in AD compared to SCD (13.0 ± 8.0 vs 19.1 ± 4,7 p = 0.008), PD-T1 score were higher in AD compared to MCI and to SCD (27.00 ± 10.00 vs 25.3 ± 5.9 vs 20.5 ± 5.6, p = 0.001). A positive correlation was found between PT-T1 and metabolic disfunction of right middle gyrus (MFG) in MCI and AD. In AD group, a positive correlation between PT-T1 and insula and superior temporal gyrus (STG) metabolism was detected. A negative correlation was found between PD-T1 and superior parietal lobule metabolism in MCI, and between PD-T1 and STG metabolism in AD. Impairment of cognitive empathy starts at MCI stage. Increase of PD starts from preclinical phases and seems to be to be dissociated from cognitive decline. Loss of PT is related to a progressive involvement starting from right MFG in prodromal stage, extending to insula and STG in dementia. Heightened emotional contagion is probably related to derangement of mirror neurons systems in parietal regions in prodromal stages, and to impairment of temporal emotion inhibition system in advanced phases. Further studies are needed to clarify if alterations in emotional contagion might be a predictive feature of a cognitive decline driven by AD.

Decreased Empathy Response to Other's Pain in Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

We aimed to investigate pain empathy ability and self-reported empathy among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty-four parents of children with ASD and 26 parents of typically developing children completed the Empathy Quotient (EQ) self-report scale and responded to painful or neutral images during an empathy-for-pain paradigm test. Parents of children with ASD had lower EQ scores, lower accuracy, and longer reaction time (RT) for pain empathy task response (all p < 0.05) compared with controls. There was a negative relationship between cognitive empathy, social skills, total EQ scores, and RT of response in parents of children with ASD. Our findings indicate that self-reported empathy deficits and decreased empathy response to the sight of others' pain in parents of children with ASD are part of a broader autistic phenotype.