Empathy: Past, Present and Future Perspectives

Description

"In this compilation, the authors analyze the feeling of empathy in the context of the constitution of empathetic bonds that mark human relations. Empathy is shown as a spontaneous manifestation, natural and implicit, and present in all human encounters.Following this, the connection between the capacity for empathy and basic personality traits and affective attachment dimensions is investigated, seeking to determine which personality type is most empathetic. The concept of intracultural empathy as a culturally-relevant manifestation of empathy that is directed toward members of a shared cultural/ethnic/racial group is introduced, and its utility for understanding the particular cultural context of critical consciousness development among African American youth is explored. One study utilizes a large sample of college students to examine the relationship between cyberbullying participation roles (cyberbullies, cybervictims, cyberbully-victims, and non-participant controls), empathy (cognitive and affective), and psychopathy (primary and secondary). The work also examines these relationships by gender to identify whether male and female differences exist among cyberbullies, cybervictims and cyberbully-victims across these traits. Next, a study is presented which seeks to confirm or refute the assumption that a program of empathy development in pre-gradual teachers training has a positive effect on changes in cognitive and emotional element of empathy in an experimental group of future teachers. The authors go on to explore the concept of empathy in physical education and sport from a diachronic perspective. Additionally, activities for providing empathy skills through physical education and sports are described. The experience of awe in relation to the empathic 'feeling into" and the ''being moved' phenomenological quality of aesthetic experience is investigated, as instantiated in the specific case of religious icons-paintings. This approach focuses specifically on an extensive exploration of the perceivers' experience of religious icons in relation to any emergent aesthetic, cultural, spiritual and religious issues. Lastly, different perspectives on animal rights activities are discussed in conjunction with the role that sympathy and empathy play. The authors then move on to look at the dualism and anti-dualism aspects of support in detail, as well as the theoretical contributions made to understanding why views of collective action relying on economic rationality are inadequate in explaining human behavior"-- Contents Preface Chapter 1 The Originality of Empathy Abstract Introduction Empathy Definitions - Contextualization Some Practical Approaches to Empathy Empathy as an Ethical Experience Conclusion References Chapter 2 Empathy in the Light of Basic Personality Traits and Affective Attachment Abstract Introduction Empathy as Psychological Phenomenon Definition of the Concept of Empathy Some of the Contexts for Exhibiting Empathy Measuring Empathy The Development of Empathy Towards the Development of Empathy - Psychoanalytical and Contemporary Developmental-Psychological Approaches Some Factors Connected with the Development and Manifestation of Empathy Personality Dimensions and Empathy Affective Attachment and Empathy The Subject and the Goals of the Research Methods Participants and Procedure Instruments and Variables Results Sample 1 Sample 2 Discussion and Conclusion References Chapter 3 A Culturally-Relevant Conception of Empathy: Intracultural Empathy among African American Youth Abstract Introduction Empathy Rationale for a Cultural-Contextual Approach to Empathy Intracultural Empathy Intracultural Empathy and Critical Consciousness Development Conclusion References Chapter 4 Cyberbullying Participation Roles: Examining the Relationship between Empathy and Psychopathy Abstract Introduction Review of the Literature Cyberbullying Empathy Psychopathy Methods Participants Instrument Cyberbullying Empathy Psychopathy Analysis Plan Results/Findings Multinomial Logistic Regression Results Conclusion References Biographical Sketches Chapter 5 The Verification of Intervention Program: ‘E – Program of Empathy Development in Pregradual Teachers Training’ Abstract Introduction Efficiency of the Intervention ‘E’ – Empathy Development Programme Research Hypotheses Methods Participants Research Methods Research Sample Results of Research Findings The Cognitive and the Emotional Component of Empathy Results of the Emotional Interest and the Perspective Taking Component Research Findings Significance of Differences in the Level of the Emotional Concern (EC) and Perspective Taking (PT) Variables between the Experimental and Control Groups according to the Mann-Whitney Test Results Personal Distress and Fantasy Subscale Research Results of the Subscales ‘Personal Distress’ (PD) and ‘Fantasy’ (FS) Components Empathy Quotient Statistical Description of Three EQ - Emotional Quotient Measurements in the Experimental and Control Groups Significance of Differences in the Level of the Observed Variable Emotional Quotient (EQ) between the Experimental and Control Groups Based on the Mann-Whitney test Significance of Differences in Observed EQ Variable in Experimental Group in Pre-Test and Post-Tests Based on the Wilcoxon Test Significance of Differences in Observed Emotional Quotient (EQ) Variable in Control Group in Pre-Test and Post-Tests Based on the Wilcoxon Test Discussion References Biographical Sketches Chapter 6 Empathy in Physical Education and Sports Abstract Introduction Sports and Empathy: History Sport and Empathy: Present Empathy Training through Physical Education and Sports: Suggestions for Future Studies Conclusion References Biographical Sketch Chapter 7 Empathy, Awe and the Sublime: Where Aesthetics and Ethics Meet in Experience Abstract Introduction On the Background of the Interaction of Ethics and Aesthetics Recent Approaches A Tentative Question-Hypothesis Empathy and Being Moved: From the Interpersonal into the Arts The ‘Paradox’ of Awe Aesthetic Awe: A Collective Background Layer (Connectedness): A Sublime/Powerful Stimulus That Moves Us From Within? A Rationale for an Option Where Ethics and Aesthetics Could Meet Method Overall: Mixed-Methods Design Procedure Materials Preliminary Assessments A Series of Perception Tasks Participants Stimuli Stimulus Presentation Results and Discussion Factorial Structure of Current Mood State Factorial Structure of the Spirituality/Religiosity/Uncertainty Scale Factorial Structure of the Attachment Patterns in Social Relationships Scale Factorial Structure of the Self/Imagination Questionnaire Factorial Structures of Perceived Affect for the Negative and Positive Themes Icons An Overall View Inter-Correlations between All Variables and the “Awe” Scale for Positive and Negative Icon Themes Predicting Feelings of Awe from the Dimensions of Perceived Affect, Spirituality, Self/Imagination, Current Mood and Attachment Scales Conclusion References Chapter 8 Sympathy and Empathy and Dualisms in Animal Rights Theories Abstract Introduction Social Movements Ecofeminism and Dualism The Role of Dualistic Thinking Elaborated Radical Exclusion Homogenisation (Stereotyping) Backgrounding (Denial) Relational Definition (Incorporation) Instrumentalism Dualisms/Anti-Dualisms Reconsidered References Index Blank Page