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Romeo Z, Spironelli C. Theta oscillations underlie the interplay between emotional processing and empathy. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34581. [PMID: 39148968 PMCID: PMC11325776 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Emotional reactions to salient stimuli are well documented in psychophysiological research. However, some individual variables that can influence how people process emotions (i.e., empathy traits) have received little consideration. The present study investigated the relationship between emotions and empathy. Forty participants completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, a questionnaire that measure general and specific empathy dimensions. Then, emotional (erotic and mutilation) and non-emotional pictures were presented, during electroencephalographic recording. Valence and arousal were evaluated for each stimulus. Behavioral results revealed a positive correlation between the arousal induced by mutilation pictures and personal distress (i.e., feeling discomfort in emergency situations). At the electrophysiological level, theta activity elicited by positive and negative emotion processing in the superior frontal gyrus was associated with personal distress. Moreover, erotic-related theta in the middle frontal gyrus was associated with subjective judgement of erotic stimulus valence. Overall, theta activity modulated the interplay between emotions and empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaira Romeo
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Spironelli
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Bani M, Russo S, Ardenghi S, Rampoldi G, Wickline V, Nowicki S, Strepparava MG. Behind the mask: What the eyes can't tell: Facial emotion recognition in a sample of Italian health care students. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2024; 77:1430-1442. [PMID: 37599379 DOI: 10.1177/17470218231198145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Wearing a facemask remains a pivotal strategy to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection even after vaccination, but one of the possible costs of this protection is that it may interfere with the ability to read emotion in facial expressions. We explored the extent to which it may be more difficult for participants to read emotions in faces when faces are covered with masks than when they are not, and whether participants' empathy, attachment style, and patient-centred orientation would affect their performance. Medical and nursing students (N = 429) were administered either a masked or unmasked set of 24 adult faces depicting anger, sadness, fear, or happiness. Participants also completed self-report measures of empathy, patient-centredness, and attachment style. As predicted, participants made more errors to the masked than the unmasked faces with the exception of the identification of fear. Of note, when participants missed happiness, they were most likely to see it as sadness, and when they missed anger, they were most likely to see it as happiness. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that more errors identifying emotions in faces was associated with faces being masked as opposed to unmasked, lower scores on the empathy fantasy scale, and higher scores on the fearful attachment style. The findings suggest that wearing facemasks is associated with a variety of negative outcomes that might interfere with the building of positive relationships between health care workers and patients. Those who teach student health care workers would benefit from bringing this finding into their curriculum and training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bani
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Selena Russo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Ardenghi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Giulia Rampoldi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Virginia Wickline
- Department of Psychology, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, GA, USA
| | - Stephen Nowicki
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Maria Grazia Strepparava
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
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3
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Jeon H, Hur A, Lee H, Shin YW, Lee SI, Shin CJ, Kim S, Ju G, Lee J, Jung JH, Chung S, Son JW. The Relationship Between Brain Activation for Taking Others' Perspective and Interoceptive Abilities in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An fMRI Study. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2024; 35:197-209. [PMID: 38966201 PMCID: PMC11220477 DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.240008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we aimed to investigate the differences in brain activation between individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals during perspective taking. We also examined the association between brain activation and empathic and interoceptive abilities. Methods During scanning, participants from the ASD (n=17) and TD (n=22) groups were shown pain stimuli and asked to rate the level of the observed pain from both self- and other-perspectives. Empathic abilities, including perspective taking, were measured using an empathic questionnaire, and three dimensions of interoception were assessed: interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive sensibility, and interoceptive trait prediction errors. Results During self-perspective taking, the ASD group exhibited greater activation in the left precuneus than the TD group. During other-perspective taking, relative hyperactivation extended to areas including the right precuneus, right superior frontal gyrus, left caudate nucleus, and left amygdala. Brain activation levels in the right superior frontal gyrus while taking other-perspective were negatively correlated with interoceptive accuracy, and those in the left caudate were negatively correlated with perspective taking ability in the ASD group. Conclusion Individuals with ASD show atypical brain activation during perspective taking. Notably, their brain regions associated with stress reactions and escape responses are overactivated when taking other-perspective. This overactivity is related to poor interoceptive accuracy, suggesting that individuals with ASD may experience difficulties with the self-other distinction or atypical embodiment when considering another person's perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyeong Jeon
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Ahjeong Hur
- Department of Psychology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Hoyeon Lee
- Autism and Developmental Disorders Treatment Center, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Yong-Wook Shin
- Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang-Ick Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Chul-Jin Shin
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Siekyeong Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Gawon Ju
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jeonghwan Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Joon Hyung Jung
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Seungwon Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Autism and Developmental Disorders Treatment Center, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jung-Woo Son
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Autism and Developmental Disorders Treatment Center, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
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Salles BM, Fadel JV, Mograbi DC. Moderate similarity leads to empathic concern, but high similarity can also induce personal distress towards others' pain. Psych J 2024; 13:322-334. [PMID: 38105597 PMCID: PMC10990819 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Empathic concern and personal distress are common vicarious emotional responses that arise when witnessing someone else's pain. However, the influence of perceived similarity on these responses remains unclear. In this study, we examined how perceived similarity with an injured target impacts vicarious emotional responses. A total of 87 participants watched a video of an athlete in pain preceded by a clip describing the athlete's trajectory, which indicated either high, moderate, or low similarity to the participants. Emotional self-reports, facial expressions, gaze behavior, and pupil diameter were measured as indicators of the participants' emotional responses. Participants in the moderate- and high-similarity groups exhibited greater empathic concern, as evidenced by their display of more sadness compared with those in the low-similarity group. Furthermore, those in the moderate-similarity group exhibited less avoidance by displaying reduced disgust, indicating lower personal distress compared with those in the low-similarity condition. Nevertheless, the high-similarity group displayed just as much disgust as the low-similarity group. These findings suggest that perceived similarity enhances empathic concern to others' suffering, but that high similarity can also lead to personal distress. Future studies on empathy should explore distinct vicarious states using multimodal measurements to further advance our understanding of these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno M. Salles
- Department of PsychologyPontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC‐Rio)Rio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - João V. Fadel
- Department of PsychologyPontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC‐Rio)Rio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Daniel C. Mograbi
- Department of PsychologyPontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC‐Rio)Rio de JaneiroBrazil
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
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Israelashvili J, Dijk C, Fischer AH. Social anxiety is associated with personal distress and disrupted recognition of negative emotions. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24587. [PMID: 38317896 PMCID: PMC10839860 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Past research investigating the relation between social anxiety (SA), empathy and emotion recognition is marked by conceptual and methodological issues. In the present study, we aim to overcome these limitations by examining whether individuals with high (n = 40) vs. low (n = 43) social anxiety differed across these two facets of empathy and whether this could be related to their recognition of emotions. We employed a naturalistic emotion recognition paradigm in which participants watched short videos of individuals (targets) sharing authentic emotional experiences. After each video, we measured self-reported empathic concern and distress, as well as their ability to recognize the emotions expressed by the targets in the videos. Our results show that individuals with high social anxiety recognized the targets' emotions less accurately. Furthermore, high socially anxious individuals reported more personal distress than low socially anxious individuals, whereas no significant difference was found for empathic concern. The findings suggest that reduced recognition of emotions among SA individuals can be better explained by the negative effects of social stress than by a general deficit in empathy.
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van Grinsven EE, Cialdella F, Verhoeff JJC, Philippens MEP, van Zandvoort MJE. Different profiles of neurocognitive functioning in patients with brain metastases prior to brain radiotherapy. Psychooncology 2023; 32:1752-1761. [PMID: 37789598 DOI: 10.1002/pon.6229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with brain metastases (BrMs) are a heterogeneous population, with almost 50% experiencing cognitive impairment before brain radiotherapy. Defining pre-radiotherapy cognitive profiles will aid in understanding of the cognitive vulnerabilities and offer valuable insight and guidance for tailoring interventions. METHODS The study population consisted of 58 adult patients with BrMs referred for radiotherapy. A semi-structured interview and comprehensive battery including 10 neuropsychological tests were used to assess subjective and objective cognitive performance prior to radiotherapy. RESULTS A majority (69%) of patients report decline in cognitive performance compared to their premorbid level (i.e. pre-cancer). Objective testing revealed memory (52%), processing speed (33%) and emotion recognition (29%) deficits were most frequent. 21% of patients had no cognitive deficits while 55% had deficits (-1.5SD) in at least two cognitive domains. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on patient deficit profiles identified four clusters: (I) no or limited cognitive deficits selectively restricted to processing speed or executive function, (II) psychomotor speed deficits, (III) memory deficits and (IV) extensive cognitive deficits including memory. No patient or clinical-related (e.g. age, number of BrMs, previous treatment) differences were found between clusters. CONCLUSIONS Patterns of cognitive performance in patients with BrMs are heterogeneous, with most experiencing at least some degree of neurocognitive dysfunction. We identified four meaningful cognitive clusters. Stability of these clusters over time and in different samples should be assessed to advance understanding of the cognitive vulnerability of this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva E van Grinsven
- Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Fia Cialdella
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joost J C Verhoeff
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marielle E P Philippens
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martine J E van Zandvoort
- Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Psychology and Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Shalev I, Eran A, Uzefovsky F. Fluctuations and individual differences in empathy interact with stress to predict mental health, parenting, and relationship outcomes. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1237278. [PMID: 37928564 PMCID: PMC10621795 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1237278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Empathy is a complex, multifaceted ability allowing for the most basic forms of social communication and plays a prominent role in multiple aspects of everyday lives. In this intensive longitudinal study, we assessed how empathy interacts with stress to predict central domains of psychosocial functioning: mental health, romantic relationships, and parenting. Methods Fluctuations and individual differences in empathy were assessed across eight time points, where participants from the general population (N = 566) self-reported their empathy, stress, depressive symptoms, romantic satisfaction, and parental functioning. Results Both trait and state aspects of empathy were associated with all psychosocial outcomes, with state empathy showing a stronger effect. Additionally, empathy components interacted with stress-emotional empathy better-predicted outcomes under high stress, while cognitive empathy under low stress. Discussion Our findings advance the theoretical understanding of empathy, emphasizing the effects of state-dependent empathy fluctuations on our everyday mental and social lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Shalev
- Department of Psychology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alal Eran
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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Beltrán-Morillas AM, Valor-Segura I, Expósito F. Unforgiveness in the Light of Sexual Infidelity: Anxious Attachment to the Partner and Personal Distress as Correlates. Psychol Rep 2023:332941231208395. [PMID: 37853525 DOI: 10.1177/00332941231208395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
It has been widely documented that infidelity is established as one of the main causes of relationship breakdowns. Likewise, the empirical literature has also revealed the association between anxious attachment and personal distress with unforgiveness motivations. However, there is no known research that has examined the role of anxious attachment to the partner, personal distress, and unforgiveness motivations in infidelity and even less, taking into account the perspective of the offended person. Through a correlational study (N = 304 Spanish participants from the general population [M = 26.25, SD = 9.62]), we examined the relationship between unforgiveness motivations (revenge and avoidance motivations for unforgiveness), anxious attachment to the partner, and personal distress experienced after a hypothetical sexual infidelity from the perspective of the offended person. The results showed that anxious attachment was positively associated with revenge motivation for unforgiveness and personal distress. Moreover, high levels of anxious attachment to the partner were only associated with higher avoidance motivation for unforgiveness through increased levels of personal distress. Last but not least, we discuss these findings and their possible repercussions for intimate relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Beltrán-Morillas
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Valor-Segura
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisca Expósito
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Naumann S, Bayer M, Kirst S, van der Meer E, Dziobek I. A randomized controlled trial on the digital socio-emotional competence training Zirkus Empathico for preschoolers. NPJ SCIENCE OF LEARNING 2023; 8:20. [PMID: 37336872 DOI: 10.1038/s41539-023-00169-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), the digital socio-emotional competence training Zirkus Empathico was tested in 74 Central European children (5.1 (0.9) years; 34 females) within a longitudinal design (three time points: T1 = pre-training; T2 = immediately following 6-week training, T3 = 3-month follow-up). The pre-registered primary outcome was empathy, secondary outcomes included emotion recognition, prosocial behavior, and behavioral problem reduction; furthermore, children's neural sensitivity to facial expressions quantified with event-related potentials. Compared to controls (N = 38), Zirkus Empathico participants (N = 36) showed increases in empathy (d = 0.28 [-0.17, 0.76]), emotion recognition (d = 0.57 [0.01, 1.06]), prosocial behavior (d = 0.51 [0.05, 0.99]) and reduced behavioral problems (d = 0.54 [0.08, 1.03]). They also showed larger P3 amplitudes to happy vs. angry and neutral facial expressions post-training. Thus, Zirkus Empathico may be a promising digital training for social competence in preschoolers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Naumann
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mareike Bayer
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Kirst
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elke van der Meer
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabel Dziobek
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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10
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Proverbio AM, Cerri A, Gallotta C. Facemasks selectively impair the recognition of facial expressions that stimulate empathy: An ERP study. Psychophysiology 2023:e14280. [PMID: 36847283 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Previous research suggests that masks disrupt expression recognition, but the neurophysiological implications of this phenomenon are poorly understood. In this study, 26 participants underwent EEG/ERP recording during the recognition of six masked/unmasked facial expressions. An emotion/word congruence paradigm was used. Face-specific N170 was significantly larger to masked than unmasked faces. The N400 component was larger for incongruent faces, but differences were more substantial for positive emotions (especially happiness). Anterior P300 (reflecting workload) was larger to masked than unmasked faces, while posterior P300 (reflecting categorization certainty) was larger to unmasked than masked faces, and to angry faces. Face masking was more detrimental to sadness, fear, and disgust than positive emotions, such as happiness. In addition, mask covering did not impair the recognition of angry faces, as the wrinkled forehead and frowning eyebrows remained visible. Overall, facial masking polarized nonverbal communication toward the happiness/anger dimension, while minimizing emotions that stimulate an empathic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Mado Proverbio
- Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Cerri
- Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Gallotta
- Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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Shepherd JL, Rippon D. The impact of briefly observing faces in opaque facial masks on emotion recognition and empathic concern. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2023; 76:404-418. [PMID: 35319298 PMCID: PMC9896299 DOI: 10.1177/17470218221092590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019, there have been global public health initiatives that have advocated for the community use of face masks to reduce spread of the virus. Although the community use of facial coverings has been deemed essential for public health, there have been calls for enquiries to ascertain how face masks may impact non-verbal methods of communication. This study aimed to ascertain how the brief observations of faces in opaque facial coverings could impact facial emotion recognition. It was also an aim to ascertain if there was an association between the levels of empathic concern and facial emotion recognition when viewing masked faces. An opportunity sample of 199 participants, who resided in the United Kingdom, were randomly assigned to briefly observe either masked (n = 102) or unmasked (n = 97) faces. Participants in both conditions were required to view a series of facial expressions, from the Radboud Faces Database, with models conveying the emotional states of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprised. Each face was presented to participants for a period of 250 ms in the masked and unmasked conditions. A 6 (emotion type) x 2 (masked/unmasked condition) mixed ANOVA revealed that viewing masked faces significantly reduced facial emotion recognition of disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprised. However, there were no differences in the success rate of recognising the emotional state of anger between the masked and unmasked conditions. Furthermore, higher levels of empathic concern were associated with greater success in facially recognising the emotional state of disgust. The results of this study suggest that significant reductions in emotion recognition, when viewing faces in opaque masks, can still be observed when people are exposed to facial stimuli for a brief period of time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Rippon
- Daniel Rippon, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Northumberland Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK.
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Smith RA, Cross ES. The McNorm library: creating and validating a new library of emotionally expressive whole body dance movements. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 87:484-508. [PMID: 35385989 PMCID: PMC8985749 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01669-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The ability to exchange affective cues with others plays a key role in our ability to create and maintain meaningful social relationships. We express our emotions through a variety of socially salient cues, including facial expressions, the voice, and body movement. While significant advances have been made in our understanding of verbal and facial communication, to date, understanding of the role played by human body movement in our social interactions remains incomplete. To this end, here we describe the creation and validation of a new set of emotionally expressive whole-body dance movement stimuli, named the Motion Capture Norming (McNorm) Library, which was designed to reconcile a number of limitations associated with previous movement stimuli. This library comprises a series of point-light representations of a dancer's movements, which were performed to communicate to observers neutrality, happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. Based on results from two validation experiments, participants could reliably discriminate the intended emotion expressed in the clips in this stimulus set, with accuracy rates up to 60% (chance = 20%). We further explored the impact of dance experience and trait empathy on emotion recognition and found that neither significantly impacted emotion discrimination. As all materials for presenting and analysing this movement library are openly available, we hope this resource will aid other researchers in further exploration of affective communication expressed by human bodily movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Smith
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Emily S. Cross
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland ,Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Hughes C, Ronchi L, Heng J, Basile C, Del Sette P, Lecce S. What Mediates the Effect of Family Disruption in the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children’s Prosocial Behavior. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1027/1864-9335/a000485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, unprecedented social distancing rules (including mass school closures) dramatically constrained children’s social lives, jeopardizing human connections that foster prosocial development. This study of 2,516 families of 3–8-year-olds from six countries (China, Sweden, Australia, Italy, the USA, and the United Kingdom) examined whether children’s understanding or feelings about COVID-19 regulations mediated the expected association between COVID-19-related family disruption and children’s prosocial behavior, as indexed by parental ratings. For all six sites, family disruption indirectly predicted reduced prosocial behavior. Negative feelings about COVID-19 regulations mediated this association in all sites except China. Contrariwise, understanding of COVID-19 regulations was not implicated in the link between family disruption and reduced prosocial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Hughes
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Luca Ronchi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Jean Heng
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chiara Basile
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paola Del Sette
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Lecce
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Moret-Tatay C, Mundi-Ricós P, Irigaray TQ. The Relationship between Face Processing, Cognitive and Affective Empathy. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 13:bs13010021. [PMID: 36661593 PMCID: PMC9854795 DOI: 10.3390/bs13010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to examine the relationship between affective and cognitive empathy scores and perceptual face recognition skills. A total of 18 young adults participated in the study. Cognitive and Affective Empathy Test (TECA), The eyes Test and an experimental task were carried out. The experimental task has two blocks, a presentation, and a recognition phase, under the Karolinska battery of images expressing different emotions. Cognitive empathy sub-factors were found to be related to the hit rate on the recognition of surprise faces as well as the discarding of faces of disgust. In relation to the hit rate on discarding faces of disgust, this was related to perspective taking. Reaction time and Cognitive empathy subfactors were found to be positively correlated to the recognition of disgust, surprise, and sadness. Lastly, Perspective taking was also related to the discarding of disgust reaction time in a direct way. The relationships between affective empathy and other measures for emotional face recognition were not statistically significant. Knowledge of individual differences in cognitive and affective empathy, as well as of their relationship with behavioral responses such as the recognition or dismissal of emotional faces are of interest for social interaction and in psychotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Moret-Tatay
- MEB Lab, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Avenida de la Ilustración 2, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Paloma Mundi-Ricós
- MEB Lab, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Avenida de la Ilustración 2, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Tatiana Quarti Irigaray
- ARIHA, Pós-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91215-330, Brazil
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Li J, Liu C, Wulandari T, Wang P, Li K, Ren L, Liu X. The relationship between dimensions of empathy and symptoms of depression among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1034119. [PMID: 36620303 PMCID: PMC9813512 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1034119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The relationship between different dimensions of empathy and individual symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear, despite the established link between empathy and depression. The network analysis offers a novel framework for visualizing the association between empathy and depression as a complex system consisting of interacting nodes. In this study, we investigated the nuanced associations between different dimensions of empathy and individual symptoms of depression using a network model during the pandemic. Methods 1,177 students completed the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), measuring dimensions of empathy, and the Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), measuring symptoms of depression. First, we investigated the nuanced associations between different dimensions of empathy and individual depressive symptoms. Then, we calculated the bridge expected influence to examine how different dimensions of empathy may activate or deactivate the symptoms of depression cluster. Finally, we conducted a network comparison test to explore whether network characteristics such as empathy-depression edges and bridge nodes differed between genders. Results First, our findings showed that personal distress was positively linked to symptoms of depression. These symptoms involved psychomotor agitation or retardation (edge weight = 0.18), sad mood (edge weight = 0.12), trouble with concentrating (edge weight = 0.11), and guilt (edge weight = 0.10). Perspective-taking was found to be negatively correlated with trouble with concentrating (edge weight = -0.11). Empathic concern was negatively associated with suicidal thoughts (edge weight = -0.10) and psychomotor agitation or retardation (edge weight = -0.08). Fantasy was not connected with any symptoms of depression. Second, personal distress and empathic concern were the most positive and negative influential nodes that bridged empathy and depression (values of bridge expected influence were 0.51 and -0.19 and values of predictability were 0.24 and 0.24, respectively). The estimates of the bridge expected influence on the nodes were adequately stable (correlation stability coefficient = 0.75). Finally, no sex differences in the studied network characteristics were observed. Conclusions This study applied network analysis to reveal potential pathways between different dimensions of empathy and individual symptoms of depression. The findings supported the existing theoretical system and contribute to the theoretical mechanism. We have also made efforts to suggest interventions and preventions based on personal distress and empathic concern, the two most important dimensions of empathy for depressive symptoms. These efforts may help Chinese university students to adopt better practical methods to overcome symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Li
- Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chang Liu
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VI, Australia
| | - Teresa Wulandari
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VI, Australia
| | - Panhui Wang
- Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kuiliang Li
- Department of Developmental Psychology for Armyman, School of Medical Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Ren
- Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China,*Correspondence: Lei Ren
| | - Xufeng Liu
- Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China,Xufeng Liu
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16
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Romero-Martínez Á, Lila M, Sarrate-Costa C, Comes-Fayos J, Moya-Albiol L. Dropout and recidivism are partly explained by emotional decoding and perspective taking deficits of intimate partner violence perpetrators. Aggress Behav 2022; 49:222-235. [PMID: 36449417 DOI: 10.1002/ab.22064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Professionals and researchers have dedicated important efforts to understanding the underlying factors that explain the failure to complete interventions (dropout) and the recidivism of men convicted of intimate partner violence (IPV) against their female partners. There is a growing interest in measuring emotional decoding and empathic deficits in IPV perpetrators to better understand dropout and recidivism proneness, due to their direct impact on behavioral regulation. In the current study, we first aimed to examine whether the emotional decoding abilities of facial expressions and empathic abilities (cognitive and emotional), as well as their interrelationships in IPV perpetrators (n = 561), would explain dropout, treatment attendance, and recidivism (risk and official) once treatment ended. Our results allowed us to conclude that emotional decoding abilities and perspective taking (cognitive empathy) were significantly and negatively associated with dropout and recidivism. Two moderation models were significant. On the one hand, participants with low emotional decoding abilities presented lower intervention doses the lower their perspective taking. Furthermore, the percentage of participants that reoffended was higher among individuals with low and moderate perspective taking who dropped out. Therefore, our study highlights the importance of conducting emotional decoding and empathic assessments during the initial stages of intervention programs to clearly outline the therapeutic needs of IPV perpetrators. This would allow designing coadjuvant and complementary training programs that can support the main interventions by increasing treatment adherence and, in turn, reducing the risk of recidivism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marisol Lila
- Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Luis Moya-Albiol
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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17
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Liu Q, Zhao X, Liu W, Liu Q. Empathy and depression among a Chinese sample: The moderating role of rumination and attentional shift. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1027298. [PMID: 36507000 PMCID: PMC9729700 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1027298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although previous studies have explored the moderating role of emotional regulation strategies in the relationship between empathy and depression, no studies have studied the moderating role of attentional control in the relationship between empathy and depression. To address this research gap, the present study investigated the moderating roles of rumination and attentional control in the relationship between empathy and depression. Methods 423 participants filled out questionnaires anonymously, including Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Attention Control Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, and Rumination Response Scale. PROCESS macro for SPSS was used for moderating effect analysis. Results Rumination and attentional shift moderated the relationship between emotional empathy and depression. Specifically, the lower rumination or the higher attentional shift, the stronger the negative association between emotional empathy and depression. Attentional shift moderated the relationship between cognitive empathy and depression, and cognitive empathy was significantly associated with depression only among participants whose attentional shift is high. Conclusion The study showed that rumination and attentional shift play important roles in the relationship between empathy and depression. The findings implicated that the positive role of good emotional regulation strategies and executive function for individuals in the relationship between empathy and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qipeng Liu
- School of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zhao
- School of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China,Anhui Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Computing and Application on Cognitive Behavior, Huaibei, China,*Correspondence: Xiaoyun Zhao,
| | - Weidi Liu
- School of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Qianchen Liu
- School of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
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18
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Berzenski SR, Yates TM. The development of empathy in child maltreatment contexts. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 133:105827. [PMID: 35987049 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite robust associations between child maltreatment experiences and emotional development, a paucity of research examines the influence of child maltreatment on empathy development, and still fewer studies differentiate these effects across maltreatment subtypes. OBJECTIVE The present study examined the development of children's empathy from ages six to eight, as predicted by maltreatment, and as moderated by children's attachment representations. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Participants were a community sample of 250 children followed longitudinally and assessed in a laboratory setting with their primary caregivers. METHOD Child maltreatment experiences from birth to age six were assessed by semi-structured interviews with caregivers, which were rated according to widely-used child maltreatment coding protocols, and by caregiver and child self-report measures. Child empathy was assessed at ages six and eight by caregiver-report. Attachment representations were observed in children using the MacArthur Story Stem Battery. RESULTS Child emotional abuse (β = -0.150, p = .012) and child neglect (β = -0.137, p = .016) predicted decreased empathy at age eight, whereas child physical abuse (β = 0.132, p = .027) and child exposure to domestic violence (β = 0.164, p = .004) predicted increased empathy at age eight. Further, children's negative representations of mother figures moderated the positive association between child physical abuse and empathy (β = -0.177, p = .005), such that the association became weaker as negative representations increased. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the nuanced ways in which child maltreatment experiences of different subtypes contribute to the development of empathy in school-aged children.
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Prato-Previde E, Basso Ricci E, Colombo ES. The Complexity of the Human–Animal Bond: Empathy, Attachment and Anthropomorphism in Human–Animal Relationships and Animal Hoarding. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202835. [PMID: 36290219 PMCID: PMC9597799 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The relationship between humans and animals may have positive effects for both parties, but there are situations in which it has poor or even negative effects for animals or for both humans and animals. Several studies reported the positive effects of this relationship in which both humans and animals obtain physical and psychological benefits from living together in a reciprocated interaction. There is also clear evidence that human–animal relationships may be characterized by different forms and levels of discomfort and suffering for animals and, in some cases, also for people. This work depicts the complex and multifaceted nature of the human–animal relationship; describes the role of empathy, attachment and anthropomorphism in the human–animal bond; shows how these psychological processes are involved in a dysfunctional way in animal hoarding, with highly detrimental effects on animal well-being. Abstract The human–animal relationship is ancient, complex and multifaceted. It may have either positive effects on humans and animals or poor or even negative and detrimental effects on animals or both humans and animals. A large body of literature has investigated the beneficial effects of this relationship in which both human and animals appear to gain physical and psychological benefits from living together in a reciprocated interaction. However, analyzing the literature with a different perspective it clearly emerges that not rarely are human–animal relationships characterized by different forms and levels of discomfort and suffering for animals and, in some cases, also for people. The negative physical and psychological consequences on animals’ well-being may be very nuanced and concealed, but there are situations in which the negative consequences are clear and striking, as in the case of animal violence, abuse or neglect. Empathy, attachment and anthropomorphism are human psychological mechanisms that are considered relevant for positive and healthy relationships with animals, but when dysfunctional or pathological determine physical or psychological suffering, or both, in animals as occurs in animal hoarding. The current work reviews some of the literature on the multifaceted nature of the human–animal relationship; describes the key role of empathy, attachment and anthropomorphism in human–animal relationships; seeks to depict how these psychological processes are distorted and dysfunctional in animal hoarding, with highly detrimental effects on both animal and human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Prato-Previde
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence:
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20
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Higgins WC, Ross RM, Langdon R, Polito V. The "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" Test Shows Poor Psychometric Properties in a Large, Demographically Representative U.S. Sample. Assessment 2022:10731911221124342. [PMID: 36124391 DOI: 10.1177/10731911221124342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (RMET) is a widely used measure of theory of mind (ToM). Despite its popularity, there are questions regarding the RMET's psychometric properties. In the current study, we examined the RMET in a representative U.S. sample of 1,181 adults. Key analyses included conducting an exploratory factor analysis on the full sample and examining whether there is a different factor structure in individuals with high versus low scores on the 28-item autism spectrum quotient (AQ-28). We identified overlapping, but distinct, three-factor models for the full sample and the two subgroups. In all cases, each of the three models showed inadequate model fit. We also found other limitations of the RMET, including that nearly a quarter of the RMET items did not meet the criteria for inclusion in the RMET that were established in the original validation study. Due to the RMET's weak psychometric properties and the uncertain validity of individual items, as indicated by our study and previous studies, we conclude that significant caution is warranted when using the RMET as a measure of ToM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert M Ross
- Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robyn Langdon
- Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vince Polito
- Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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21
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Holtgraves T. Implicit communication of emotions via written text messages. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2022.100219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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22
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Ge Y, Su R, Liang Z, Luo J, Tian S, Shen X, Wu H, Liu C. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Right Temporal Parietal Junction Facilitates Spontaneous Micro-Expression Recognition. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:933831. [PMID: 35874155 PMCID: PMC9305610 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.933831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Micro-expressions are fleeting and subtle emotional expressions. As they are spontaneous and uncontrollable by one's mind, micro-expressions are considered an indicator of genuine emotions. Their accurate recognition and interpretation promote interpersonal interaction and social communication. Therefore, enhancing the ability to recognize micro-expressions has captured much attention. In the current study, we investigated the effects of training on micro-expression recognition with a Chinese version of the Micro-Expression Training Tool (METT). Our goal was to confirm whether the recognition accuracy of spontaneous micro-expressions could be improved through training and brain stimulation. Since the right temporal parietal junction (rTPJ) has been shown to be involved in the explicit process of facial emotion recognition, we hypothesized that the rTPJ would play a role in facilitating the recognition of micro-expressions. The results showed that anodal transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) of the rTPJ indeed improved the recognition of spontaneous micro-expressions, especially for those associated with fear. The improved accuracy of recognizing fear spontaneous micro-expressions was positively correlated with personal distress in the anodal group but not in the sham group. Our study supports that the combined use of tDCS and METT can be a viable way to train and enhance micro-expression recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute of Biomedicine, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Su
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zilu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Beijing Institute of Biomedicine, Beijing, China
| | - Suizi Tian
- School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xunbing Shen
- College of Humanities, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China
| | - Haiyan Wu
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences and Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Taipa, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Cooper H, Brar A, Beyaztas H, Jennings BJ, Bennetts RJ. The effects of face coverings, own-ethnicity biases, and attitudes on emotion recognition. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2022; 7:57. [PMID: 35780221 PMCID: PMC9250564 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-022-00400-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, face coverings were introduced as a safety measure in certain environments in England and some research suggests that they can affect emotion recognition. Factors such as own-ethnicity bias (e.g. whether people perceiving and expressing emotions are of the same ethnicity) and social biases are also known to influence emotion recognition. However, it is unclear whether these factors interact with face coverings to affect emotion recognition. Therefore, this study examined the effects of face coverings, own-ethnicity biases, and attitudes on emotion recognition accuracy. In this study, 131 participants viewed masked and unmasked emotional faces varying in ethnicity and completed a questionnaire on their attitudes towards face masks. We found that emotion recognition was associated with masks and attitudes: accuracy was lower in masked than unmasked conditions and attitudes towards masks Inside and Outside were associated with emotion recognition. However, a match between perceiver and stimulus ethnicity did not have a significant effect on emotion recognition. Ultimately, our results suggest that masks, and negative attitudes towards them, were associated with poorer emotion recognition. Future research should explore different mask-wearing behaviours and possible in-group/out-group biases and their interaction with other social cues (e.g. in-group biases).
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Cooper
- Division of Psychology, College of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
| | - Amrit Brar
- Division of Psychology, College of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Hazel Beyaztas
- Division of Psychology, College of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Ben J Jennings
- Division of Psychology, College of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Rachel J Bennetts
- Division of Psychology, College of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
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24
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Proverbio AM, Cerri A. The Recognition of Facial Expressions Under Surgical Masks: The Primacy of Anger. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:864490. [PMID: 35784837 PMCID: PMC9243392 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.864490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The need to wear surgical masks in everyday life has drawn the attention of psychologists to the negative effects of face covering on social processing. A recent but not homogeneous literature has highlighted large costs in the ability to recognize emotions. Methods Here it was investigated how mask covering impaired the recognition of facial mimicry in a large group of 220 undergraduate students. Sex differences in emotion recognition were also analyzed in two subgroups of 94 age-matched participants. Subjects were presented with 112 pictures displaying the faces of eight actors (4 women and 4 men) wearing or not wearing real facemasks, and expressing seven emotional states (neutrality, surprise, happiness, sadness, disgust, anger and fear). The task consisted in categorizing facial expressions while indicating the emotion recognizability with a 3-point Likert scale. Scores underwent repeated measures ANOVAs. Results Overall, face masking reduced emotion recognition by 31%. All emotions were affected by mask covering except for anger. Face covering was most detrimental to sadness and disgust, both relying on mouth and nose expressiveness. Women showed a better performance for subtle expressions such as surprise and sadness, both in masked and natural conditions, and men for fear recognition (in natural but especially masked conditions). Conclusion Anger display was unaffected by masking, also because corrugated forehead and frowning eyebrows were clearly exposed. Overall, facial masking seems to polarize non-verbal communication toward the happiness/anger dimension, while minimizing emotions that stimulate an empathic response in the observer.
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25
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Fostering socio-emotional competencies in children on the autism spectrum using a parent-assisted serious game: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Behav Res Ther 2022; 152:104068. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Campos C, Pasion R, Azeredo A, Ramião E, Mazer P, Macedo I, Barbosa F. Refining the link between psychopathy, antisocial behavior, and empathy: A meta-analytical approach across different conceptual frameworks. Clin Psychol Rev 2022; 94:102145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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27
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Siem B. The relationship between empathic concern and perceived personal costs for helping and how it is affected by similarity perceptions. The Journal of Social Psychology 2021; 162:178-197. [PMID: 34850671 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2021.1996321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
One explanation for the positive effect of state empathic concern on helping is that such other-focused feelings reduce helpers' perceptions of their personal costs for helping. Results from an experiment (N = 186) supported these assumptions and showed further that self-focused feelings of personal distress, another form of affective empathy, were a positive predictor of perceived costs. Moreover, I examined whether the strength of the negative relationship between empathic concern and personal costs depends on two forms of perceived similarity between the helper and the target, person similarity and experience similarity. For this purpose, I manipulated person similarity by portraying the target as either similar or dissimilar with regard to essential characteristics, and assessed experience similarity by asking whether or not participants share the target's negative experience. As predicted, the negative relationship between empathic concern and perceived personal costs was strongest when person similarity was high and experience similarity low.
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28
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Abargil M, Tishby O. How therapists' emotion recognition relates to therapy process and outcome. Clin Psychol Psychother 2021; 29:1001-1019. [PMID: 34719825 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Empathy is an essential characteristic for therapists that explained 9% of the variance in treatment outcomes. Many measures of empathy are based on self-report questionnaires. Therefore, they reflect how a person perceives his empathic abilities, which can be biased from his true abilities. The ability to recognize emotions has been found to be related to empathy and serves as a measure for the use of empathic abilities. In this study, we examined therapists' empathic abilities, using a novel task for recognizing emotions, and looked at how they related to the therapy process and outcomes. The study included 33 patient-therapist dyads. Therapist empathy was assessed with an emotion detection task, the JeFEE. Clients filled questionnaires after each session regarding therapy progress and their symptoms. We found that emotion recognition moderated the change in (a) client secure attachment to therapist, (b) client avoidant attachment to therapist, (c) client working alliance, (d) client rate of tense or upset they felt during the session, (e) client lack of emotional clarity of emotions, (f) client non-acceptance of emotional responses, (g) client overall emotion regulation and (h) client main target complaint. Implication for therapy and therapists' selection and training are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maayan Abargil
- Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Orya Tishby
- Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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29
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Namba S, Kabir RS, Matsuda K, Noguchi Y, Kambara K, Kobayashi R, Shigematsu J, Miyatani M, Nakao T. Fantasy Component of Interpersonal Reactivity is Associated with Empathic Accuracy: Findings from Behavioral Experiments with Implications for Applied Settings. READING PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/02702711.2021.1939823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shushi Namba
- Psychological Process Research Team, Guardian Robot Project, RIKEN Information R&D and Strategy Headquarters, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Psychology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Russell Sarwar Kabir
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kiyoaki Matsuda
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuka Noguchi
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kohei Kambara
- Department of Psychology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Ryota Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Jun Shigematsu
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Makoto Miyatani
- Department of Psychology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakao
- Department of Psychology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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30
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Stevens F, Taber K. The neuroscience of empathy and compassion in pro-social behavior. Neuropsychologia 2021; 159:107925. [PMID: 34186105 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Research in the scientific literature increasingly demonstrates that empathy consists of multiple dimensions, and that defining empathy as a single encompassing term may be imprecise. Recent calls have been made for increasing empathy as means to increase pro-social behavior. However, contradictory evidence exists that empathy may reduce pro-social behavior. This debate has sparked confusion around what is empathy, along with the value of empathy in promoting pro-social behavior. This paper will examine recent advances in affective neuroscience to better understand the construct of empathy and its relationship to pro-social behavior. Individuals' responses to affective empathy, seeing the suffering of others can result in personal distress or empathic concern, which may then subsequently affect motivation for pro-social behavior. Current research in affective neuroscience suggests that combining compassion interventions in conjunction with both affective and cognitive empathy offers the most optimal likelihood that individuals will engage in pro-social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine Taber
- Veterans Affairs Mid Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, USA; W.G. "Bill" Hefner VA Medical Center, USA; Division of Biomedical Sciences at College of Osteopathic Medicine, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine, USA
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31
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Israelashvili J, Pauw LS, Sauter DA, Fischer AH. Emotion Recognition from Realistic Dynamic Emotional Expressions Cohere with Established Emotion Recognition Tests: A Proof-of-Concept Validation of the Emotional Accuracy Test. J Intell 2021; 9:25. [PMID: 34067013 PMCID: PMC8162550 DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence9020025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in understanding other people's emotions have typically been studied with recognition tests using prototypical emotional expressions. These tests have been criticized for the use of posed, prototypical displays, raising the question of whether such tests tell us anything about the ability to understand spontaneous, non-prototypical emotional expressions. Here, we employ the Emotional Accuracy Test (EAT), which uses natural emotional expressions and defines the recognition as the match between the emotion ratings of a target and a perceiver. In two preregistered studies (Ntotal = 231), we compared the performance on the EAT with two well-established tests of emotion recognition ability: the Geneva Emotion Recognition Test (GERT) and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). We found significant overlap (r > 0.20) between individuals' performance in recognizing spontaneous emotions in naturalistic settings (EAT) and posed (or enacted) non-verbal measures of emotion recognition (GERT, RMET), even when controlling for individual differences in verbal IQ. On average, however, participants reported enjoying the EAT more than the other tasks. Thus, the current research provides a proof-of-concept validation of the EAT as a useful measure for testing the understanding of others' emotions, a crucial feature of emotional intelligence. Further, our findings indicate that emotion recognition tests using prototypical expressions are valid proxies for measuring the understanding of others' emotions in more realistic everyday contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Israelashvili
- Psychology Department, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
| | - Lisanne S. Pauw
- Department of Psychology, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Disa A. Sauter
- Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1001 NK Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (D.A.S.); (A.H.F.)
| | - Agneta H. Fischer
- Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1001 NK Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (D.A.S.); (A.H.F.)
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32
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Pauw LS, Hoogeveen S, Breitenstein CJ, Meier F, Rauch-Anderegg V, Neysari M, Martin M, Bodenmann G, Milek A. Spillover Effects When Taking Turns in Dyadic Coping: How Lingering Negative Affect and Perceived Partner Responsiveness Shape Subsequent Support Provision. Front Psychol 2021; 12:637534. [PMID: 33746855 PMCID: PMC7970130 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
When experiencing personal distress, people usually expect their romantic partner to be supportive. However, when put in a situation to provide support, people may at times (still) be struggling with issues of their own. This interdependent nature of dyadic coping interactions as well as potential spillover effects is mirrored in the state-of-the-art research method to behaviorally assess couple's dyadic coping processes. This paradigm typically includes two videotaped 8-min dyadic coping conversations in which partners swap roles as sharer and support provider. Little is known about how such dyadic coping interactions may feed back into one another, impacting the motivation and ability to be a responsive support provider. In three behavioral studies, we examined how sharers' experiences may spill over to affect their own support provision in a subsequent dyadic coping interaction. We hypothesized that the extent to which sharers perceive their partner as responsive to their self-disclosure increases the quality of their own subsequent support provision (Hypothesis 1), whereas sharers' lingering negative affect reduces the quality of their own subsequent support provision (Hypothesis 2). In line with our first hypothesis, perceived partner responsiveness predicted the provision of higher-quality support, though primarily as perceived by the partner. Sharers who perceived their partner to have been more responsive were somewhat more likely to subsequently engage in positive dyadic coping and were rated as more responsive by their partners. Negative dyadic coping behavior was unaffected. Evidence for our second hypothesis was mixed. While lingering negative affect did not affect positive dyadic coping behavior or perceived support, it did increase the chances of negative dyadic coping behavior. However, given the very low occurrences of negative affect and negative dyadic coping, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Taken together, these findings suggest that support interactions may feed back into one another, highlighting the complex and interdependent nature of dyadic coping. The strongest and most consistent findings concerned the spillover effect of perceived partner responsiveness on subsequent perceived support quality, speaking to the key role of believing that one's partner is responsive to one's needs in promoting healthy relationship functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne S Pauw
- Couple and Family Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, Münster University, Münster, Germany
| | - Suzanne Hoogeveen
- Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christina J Breitenstein
- Clinical Psychology for Children/Adolescents and Couples/Families, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Meier
- Clinical Psychology for Children/Adolescents and Couples/Families, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Valentina Rauch-Anderegg
- Clinical Psychology for Children/Adolescents and Couples/Families, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mona Neysari
- University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mike Martin
- University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Guy Bodenmann
- Clinical Psychology for Children/Adolescents and Couples/Families, Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anne Milek
- Couple and Family Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, Münster University, Münster, Germany
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33
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Chuang SP, Wu JYW, Wang CS. Metacognitive Beliefs, Cognitive Functioning, Psychiatric Symptoms and Empathy in People with Schizophrenia. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2021; 17:2209-2217. [PMID: 34262281 PMCID: PMC8274239 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s313932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with schizophrenia often exhibit deficits in empathy, which plays a major role in social cognition and interpersonal relationship. However, little work has investigated potential factors that influence empathy in schizophrenia. The study aimed to investigate the relationship among metacognition, psychiatric symptoms, cognitive functioning and empathy in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. METHODS Forty-eight people with schizophrenia were enrolled in the study group. All subjects participated in the metacognitions questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), neurocognitive functioning, interpersonal reactivity index (IRI), and the pictorial empathy test (PET). RESULTS Stepwise regression analysis revealed that cognitive self-consciousness (domain of metacognitions questionnaire-30) accounted for 37% of the variance in perspective taking scores (domain of interpersonal reactivity index). Resistance (subscale of brief psychiatric rating scale) and positive beliefs about worry (domain of metacognitions questionnaire-30) accounted for 34% of the variance in fantasy (domain of interpersonal reactivity index). Activation (subscale of brief psychiatric rating scale) was a significant predictor for empathic concern (domain of interpersonal reactivity index). Resistance, cognitive confidence (domain of metacognitions questionnaire-30), intellectual processes and inhibitory control (go-no-go task) accounted for 38% of the variance in personal distress. Negative symptoms (subscale of brief psychiatric rating scale) and cognitive self-consciousness were significant predictors for the pictorial empathy test. CONCLUSION The study was aimed to examine self-perception of metacognitive beliefs and empathy. More research is needed to explore the association between metacognitive beliefs, cognitive functioning and psychiatric symptoms on empathy in people with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Ping Chuang
- Department of Psychiatry, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | | | - Chien Shu Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Prato-Previde E, Cannas S, Palestrini C, Ingraffia S, Battini M, Ludovico LA, Ntalampiras S, Presti G, Mattiello S. What's in a Meow? A Study on Human Classification and Interpretation of Domestic Cat Vocalizations. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122390. [PMID: 33327613 PMCID: PMC7765146 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cat–human communication is a core aspect of cat–human relationships and has an impact on domestic cats’ welfare. Meows are the most common human-directed vocalizations and are used in different everyday contexts to convey emotional states. This work investigates adult humans’ capacity to recognize meows emitted by cats during waiting for food, isolation, and brushing. We also assessed whether participants’ gender and level of empathy toward animals in general, and toward cats in particular, positively affect the recognition of cat meows. Participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge of cats and to evaluate their empathy toward animals. In addition, they listened to cat meows recorded in different situations and tried to identify the context in which they were emitted and their emotional valence. Overall, we found that, although meowing is mainly a human-directed vocalization and should represent a useful tool for cats to communicate emotional states to their owners, humans are not good at extracting precise information from cats’ vocalizations and show a limited capacity of discrimination based mainly on their experience with cats and influenced by gender and empathy toward them. Abstract Although the domestic cat (Felis catus) is probably the most widespread companion animal in the world and interacts in a complex and multifaceted way with humans, the human–cat relationship and reciprocal communication have received far less attention compared, for example, to the human–dog relationship. Only a limited number of studies have considered what people understand of cats’ human-directed vocal signals during daily cat–owner interactions. The aim of the current study was to investigate to what extent adult humans recognize cat vocalizations, namely meows, emitted in three different contexts: waiting for food, isolation, and brushing. A second aim was to evaluate whether the level of human empathy toward animals and cats and the participant’s gender would positively influence the recognition of cat vocalizations. Finally, some insights on which acoustic features are relevant for the main investigation are provided as a serendipitous result. Two hundred twenty-five adult participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge of cats and to evaluate their empathy toward animals (Animal Empathy Scale). In addition, participants had to listen to six cat meows recorded in three different contexts and specify the context in which they were emitted and their emotional valence. Less than half of the participants were able to associate cats’ vocalizations with the correct context in which they were emitted; the best recognized meow was that emitted while waiting for food. Female participants and cat owners showed a higher ability to correctly classify the vocalizations emitted by cats during brushing and isolation. A high level of empathy toward cats was significantly associated with a better recognition of meows emitted during isolation. Regarding the emotional valence of meows, it emerged that cat vocalizations emitted during isolation are perceived by people as the most negative, whereas those emitted during brushing are perceived as most positive. Overall, it emerged that, although meowing is mainly a human-directed vocalization and in principle represents a useful tool for cats to communicate emotional states to their owners, humans are not particularly able to extract precise information from cats’ vocalizations and show a limited capacity of discrimination based mainly on their experience with cats and influenced by empathy toward them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Prato-Previde
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Simona Cannas
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (C.P.); (S.I.)
| | - Clara Palestrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (C.P.); (S.I.)
| | - Sara Ingraffia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (C.P.); (S.I.)
| | - Monica Battini
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.B.); (S.M.)
| | - Luca Andrea Ludovico
- Department of Computer Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (L.A.L.); (S.N.); (G.P.)
| | - Stavros Ntalampiras
- Department of Computer Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (L.A.L.); (S.N.); (G.P.)
| | - Giorgio Presti
- Department of Computer Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (L.A.L.); (S.N.); (G.P.)
| | - Silvana Mattiello
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.B.); (S.M.)
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