Empathy

=Empathy=

Ideas for EE focus question
Biological LOA vs sociocultural LOA Plan to spend 2 days in McGill library
 * Compare the degree to which empathy is influenced by culture **
 * versus **
 * the extent to which it is the same for all **
 * ** Is mirror neuron activity the same across cultures? **
 * ** Does having the same facial cues mean that empathy exists to the same extent in all cultures? **
 * biopsychosocial approach
 * key areas of disagreement in terms of findings
 * what are the key studies
 * critique the studies (limitations and strengths)

//The social neuroscience of empathy// / edited by Jean Decety and William Ickes. p. cm.—(Social neuroscience) ISBN 978-0-262-01297-3 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Empathy. 2. Neurosciences. 3. Social psychology. I. Decety, Jean. II. Ickes, William John.

Other sources
http://neuroscene.com/2010/04/17/social-neuroscience-measuring-and-quantifying-human-empathy/

=Other pages= Basic Plan! Basics of Empathy Evidence - Empathy influenced by culture Evidence - Universal Empathy

From here down, Mostly BRAINSTORM Material
EMPATHY INFLUENCED BY CULTURE

Study conducted on Service Employees from different cultures and their ability to detect emotions in customers from different cultures (Empathy) There was a variation in their abilities! []

Discussion of the need to take more multicultural worldviews when empathizing in treatment. []

E-article. Minority elicits less empathy. [] Abstract: Empathy is hindered when majority is confronted with an out-group. Cross-cultural empathy issues. [|http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WJB-4YPPR8Y-2&_user=6436833&_coverDate=03%2F27%2F2010&_rdoc=3&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%236874%239999%23999999999%2399999%23FLA%23display%23Articles)&_cdi=6874&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=28&_acct=C000047720&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=6436833&md5=d71efe0e337c33482c3ce4887746b4c9] Article: Strong racial identity intensifies empathy. How one's culture afftect one's ability to empathize. []

Perceptions of empathy across cultures. How attributions of certain types of empathy to genders change between western and japanese cultures. A look at Omoiyari (Japanese type of empathy for which there is no English translation) [] Abstract: [] Abstract: (Examination of Japanese attitude towards empathy) []

Sympathy, distress, and prosocial behavior of preschool children in four cultures Abstract: []

CULTURE affects facial recognition. Science Daily Article: []

Possible extra things: Differences in the perceptions of pain vs. pleasure facial expressions in males/females by males/females. []

EMPATHY SAME FOR ALL

Mechanisms for Empathy (Described as 'ubiquitous'). Vocal mimicry, postural mimicry, facial mimicry. Suggests that we all have the capacity to intuitively discern the emotions of others rapidly and accurately. []

Empathy and Altruism having evolved. (Possible biological LoA/ evolutionary explanations for empathy) [|http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/pdf_attachments/de%20Waal%20(2008).pdf] The "Empathetic Ape." Another evolutionary explanation for empathy. Perspective Article. []

Looking at empathy from a viewpoint that will give support for empathy evolving "Across age, gender, and //species//" []


 * Where from here? (A 'Brainstorm' of sorts. Possible ideas for specific focus from reading)**

__Mirror-touch synesthesia as a heightened version of mirror neuron activity.__ I could use this as an illustration of Empathy mechanisms, though it is probably too specific to be a specific research focus on its own. Alternatively, I have also read about synesthetes who attribute personalitites to numbers or letters or days of the week. This sometimes makes it difficult for them to do math, or form words, as certain numbers do not 'get along'. Could I explore empathizing with inanimate objects? Or not even objects, but letters and numbers which are constructs of language

Reading //Blink// by Malcolm Gladwell has also stirred some ideas __The importance of empathy in medical practice__ Alice Burkin, leading medical malpractice lawyer notes that 'people don't sue doctors that they like'. Apparently, the rate of lawsuits agaisnt doctors for malpractice depends not only on whether or not the doctor makes a mistake, but also on how much empathy and respect is evidenced by the way the doctor addresses the patient. I could explore other studies or other ways in which the level of empathy affects a patients reaction to a doctor. Could empathy affect how well a patient get's better?

__'Thin slicing' and learning about another person's personality (micro expressions and the like)__ Looking at the second definition of empathy below, Empathy can be interpreted as gaining insight into the thoughts and feelings of others, of somehow 'knowing' that person without knowing them. One of the more interesting aspects of Empathy I found was its relationship to facial and emotional recognition. Malcolm Gladwell, citing several psychological studies, suggests that to gain insight into a person's thoughts, one needs simply to reduce a conversation with that person into its smallest components, and to look at the facial expressions that flash across the person's face. (might give insight as to whether a relationship will end in divorce).

The only thing I'm afraid of is relying too heavily on the ideas posed in //Blink.// Of course I would have to do extra research and examine the topic from other angles as well.

Social neuroscience approaches to interpersonal sensitivity
An editorial outlining several elements (Theory of mind, facial recognition, etc) that contribute to the formation of 'empathy' through different lenses. (Brain scanning, observations, etc) [|http://home.uchicago.edu/~decety/publications/Decety_SN07.pdf]

Biological level of analysis
VS Ramachandran: Mirror Neurons and the Brain in the Vat (Magazine Article) []
 * VS Ramachandran: The neurons that shaped civilization **

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Oxytocin Increase Generosity in Humans (Journal Article) []

**Cognitive Level of Analysis**
Facial Recognition studies: Abigail marsh [] Specifically: Fear Recognition correlation to giving money to a woman in need. []

Sociocultural Level of Analysis
In-Group versus Out-group facial identification on a duration facial identification task? (Outline) [|http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a780679952]

Experts w/ material to Read
Jean Decety []

Dan Batson []