scholarly journals Does empathy always inhibit amorality and offending?

Psihologija ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Vukosavljevic-Gvozden ◽  
Goran Opacic ◽  
Ivana Perunicic-Mladenovic

Results of previous studies have been inconsistent over the role of emotional and cognitive empathy in aggressive and antisocial behavior. The aim of this study is to clarify the specific nature of the empathic profiles associated with different types of amoral behavior (induced by impulsivity, frustration and brutality), measured through self-reports. The sample consists of male prisoners who have committed violent and non-violent types of offenses (robberies and thefts) and the control group with no criminal history (N=200). Results demonstrate that general amorality which combines all three types of amoral attitudes is negatively associated both with emotional and cognitive empathy, but the association with the emotional empathy is much stronger one. On the other hand, amorality induced by frustration (characterized by resentment, dark picture of reality which justifies personal Machiavellianism) is positively associated with cognitive empathy which might be used for manipulation. These results provide guidelines for empathy trainings for offenders, highlighting the significance of increasing emotional empathy

Author(s):  
Ross Buck ◽  
Zhan Xu

Individual differences in the ability to recognize emotion displays relate strongly to emotional intelligence, and emotional and social competence. However, there is a difference between the ability to judge the emotions of another person (i.e., emotional empathy) and the ability to take the perspective of another person, including making accurate appraisals, attributions, and inferences about the mental states of others (i.e., cognitive empathy). In this chapter, we review the concept of emotional empathy and the current state of the field, including emerging and converging evidence from neuroscience research that emotional and cognitive empathy involve doubly dissociable brain systems. We also discuss emerging literature on the physiological mechanisms underlying empathy in the peripheral and central nervous systems. We then distinguish spontaneous and symbolic communication processes to show how cognitive empathy emerges from emotional empathy during development. Development starts with the prelinguistic mutual contingent responsiveness of infant and caregiver yielding “raw” primary intersubjectivity, then secondary and tertiary intersubjectivity advances with increasing social experience, and finally cognitive empathic abilities expand in perspective taking and Theory of Mind (ToM) skills. We then present an Affect-Reason-Involvement (ARI) model to guide the conceptualization and measurement of emotional and cognitive empathy. We consider emotion correlation scores as a flexible and valid approach to empathy measurement, with implications for understanding the role of discrete emotions in decision making. Finally, we apply this reasoning to recent studies of the role of emotion and empathy in bullying.


Author(s):  
Hanaa H. Ahmed ◽  
Fatehya M Metwally ◽  
Hend Rashad ◽  
Asmaa M Zaazaa

<p>ABSTRACT<br />Objective: The goal of the present study was to examine the viability of Morus alba (M. alba) ethanolic extract in repression of obesity-associated<br />hepatic steatosis and related metabolic disorder; dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and glycemic status.<br />Methods: Adult female albino rats were randomly assigned into four groups, eight rats each as follows: Group (1) control group received standard<br />rodent diet for 24 weeks. The other three groups administered high cholesterol diet for 12 weeks and served as obese group, M. alba-treated group,<br />and simvastatin-treated group.<br />Results: The current results showed an increment in thoracic circumference (TCX) and abdominal circumferences (AC) as well as body mass index<br />(BMI) in obese group. In addition, dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance have been elucidated in obese group.<br />Moreover, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and bilirubin<br />values were significantly increased in obese groups versus control group. On the other hand, administration of ethanolic extract of Morus alba or<br />simvastatin could significantly lessen BMI and in addition to improve dyslipidemia in obese group. Glucose, insulin levels, and insulin resistance value<br />in serum samples demonstrated a significant reduction in obese group upon treatment with M. alba ethanolic extract or simvastatin. Furthermore,<br />noticeable depletion in hepatic MDA, NO contents, serum ALT, AST activities, and serum bilirubin level was recorded as a result of treatment with<br />either ethanolic extract of M. alba or simvastatin. Histopathological examination of liver tissue showed ballooning degeneration in the hepatocytes<br />(hepatic steatosis) associated with inflammatory cells penetration in portal zone in obese group. Meanwhile, the treatment of obese groups with<br />ethanolic extract of M. alba or simvastatin was found to restore the structural organization of the liver.<br />Conclusion: The present findings provide a novel aspect for understanding of the role of M. alba against obesity-associated liver diseases and related<br />metabolic disorder. The mechanisms underlying these effects seem to depend on the hypolipidemic potential, anti-inflammatory property, and<br />antioxidant activity of its phytochemicals.<br />Keywords: Obesity, Morus alba, Dyslipidemia, Hyperinsulinemia, Hyperglycemia, Hepatic steatosis.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ovidiu-Dumitru Ilie ◽  
Emanuela Paduraru ◽  
Madalina-Andreea Robea ◽  
Ioana-Miruna Balmus ◽  
Roxana Jijie ◽  
...  

Background. As every organ within the body, the brain is also extremely susceptible to a plethora of noxious agents that change its chemistry. One component frequently found in current products against harmful species to crops is rotenone whose effect under prolonged exposure has been demonstrated to cause neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. The latest reports have indeed revealed that rotenone promotes Parkinson’s in humans, but studies aiming to show congruent effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio) are lacking. Material and Methods. In this context, the aim of the present study was to demonstrate how chronic administration of rotenone for 3 weeks impairs the locomotor activity and sociability and induces oxidative stress in zebrafish. Results. There were no statistically significant differences following the analysis of their social interaction and locomotor tests ( p > 0.05 ). However, several exceptions have been noted in the control, rotenone, and probiotics groups when we compared their locomotor activity during the pretreatment and treatment interval ( p < 0.05 ). We further assessed the role of rotenone in disturbing the detoxifying system as represented by three enzymes known as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Despite the fact that there were no statistically significant changes within SOD and GPx levels between the control group and rotenone, probiotics, and rotenone + probiotics ( p > 0.05 ), relevant changes have been observed between the analyzed groups ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.005 , respectively). On the other hand, significant differences ( p < 0.05 ) have been observed for MDA when we analyzed the data between the control group and the other three groups. Conclusions. Our results suggest that rotenone can be successfully used to trigger Parkinson’s disease-related symptomatology in zebrafish.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Pereira Borges ◽  
Julio Cesar Campos Ferreira-Filho ◽  
Julia Medeiros Martins ◽  
Caroline Vieira Alves ◽  
Bianca Marques Santiago ◽  
...  

The purpose of this work was to verifyin vitroadherence ofE. corrodensandS. oralisto the surface of tongue piercings made of surgical steel, titanium, Bioplast, and Teflon. For this, 160 piercings were used for the count of Colony Forming Units (CFU) and 32 piercings for analysis under scanning electron microscopy. Of these, 96 (24 of each type) were individually incubated in 5 mL of BHI broth and 50 μL of inoculum at 37°C/24 h. The other 96 piercings formed the control group and were individually incubated in 5 mL of BHI broth at 37°C/24 h. Plates were incubated at 37°C/48 h for counting of CFU/mL and data were submitted to statistical analysis (pvalue<0.05). ForE. corrodens, difference among types of material was observed (p<0.001) and titanium and surgical steel showed lower bacterial adherence. The adherence ofS. oralisdiffered among piercings, showing lower colonization (p<0.007) in titanium and surgical steel piercings. The four types of piercings were susceptible to colonization byE. corrodensandS. oralis, and bacterial adhesion was more significant in those made of Bioplast and Teflon. The piercings presented bacterial colonies on their surface, being higher in plastic piercings probably due to their uneven and rough surface.


Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faiz Muhammad Khand ◽  
Da-Wei Yao ◽  
Pan Hao ◽  
Xin-Qi Wu ◽  
Asghar Ali Kamboh ◽  
...  

Early diagnosis of mammary gland tumors is a challenging task in animals, especially in unspayed dogs. Hence, this study investigated the role of microsatellite instability (MSI), MMR gene mRNA transcript levels and SNPs of MMR genes in canine mammary gland tumors (CMT). A total of 77 microsatellite (MS) markers in 23 primary CMT were selected from four breeds of dogs. The results revealed that 11 out of 77 MS markers were unstable and showed MSI in all the tumors (at least at one locus), while the other markers were stable. Compared to the other markers, the ABC9TETRA, MEPIA, 9A5, SCNA11 and FJL25 markers showed higher frequencies of instability. All CMT demonstrated MSI, with eight tumors presenting MSI-H. The RT-qPCR results revealed significant upregulation of the mRNA levels of cMSH3, cMLH1, and cPMSI, but downregulation of cMSH2 compared to the levels in the control group. Moreover, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were observed in the cMSH2 gene in four exons, i.e., 2, 6, 15, and 16. In conclusion, MSI, overexpression of MMR genes and SNPs in the MMR gene are associated with CMT and could be served as diagnostic biomarkers for CMT in the future.


2001 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannis Theodorakis ◽  
Stiliani Chroni ◽  
Kostas Laparidis ◽  
Vagelis Bebetsos ◽  
Irini Douma

This study examined the effectiveness of two different types of self-talk on the performance of a basketball-shooting task. 60 physical education and sports sciences students were organized into one control and two treatment groups which used self-talk. During the experiment, the control group performed with the general instructions, whereas the self-talk groups used the cue-words “relax” and “fast,” respectively. Analysis showed that only the participants of the self-talk group who used the word “relax” improved their performance significantly as compared to the other two groups. It appears that self-talk can positively affect performance if its content is appropriate for the task performed.


1952 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Dinsmoor

Twelve white rats learned to press a bar or lever when this act was intermittently followed by pellets of food. Once a stable rate of pressing had been established, the animals were subjected to electric shock as a punishment for each response during alternate five minute periods within the experimental session. A difference in rates during the safe and punished phases was manifested both by the experimental group (8 rats), who were provided with a light as a signal when it was safe to respond, and also, contrary to expectation, by the control group (4 rats), who continued in darkness throughout the session. The differential responding by the control group was greatly reduced, however, when the duration of each phase was reduced from five minutes to one. The investigation was then continued to determine the role of some of the other factors in the situation. Increasing the severity of the shock increased the difference between the light and the dark rates. Withholding the pellets of food reduced the overall rates but did not affect the light-dark discrimination. Withholding the shock, on the other hand, permitted an increase in rate and caused the animals to lose their discrimination; when food had previously been withheld, however, so that the rate of response was relatively low, this deterioration in the discrimination was not as rapid as before. Restoration of the discrimination training under a lower hunger drive confirmed the finding that the formation of the discrimination was quite rapid and showed that the level of drive did not affect the proportionality between the rates in the light and in the darkness. These findings were interpreted by comparing the current procedure with those previously used in studies of avoidance reactions and conflict.


1958 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. T. M. Yeates

The coat changes of an experimental group of four undernourished Shorthorn heifers have been compared with those of a control group of four well-fed heifers.Low nutrition impeded seasonal shedding in three of the four experimental animals, and the hair which was retained into the summer months appeared lifeless and bleached. One animal's hair and shedding were normal, despite low nutrition.Two animals of the control group also partially retained their hair in the summer, but it was of normal colour, good lustre, and vital appearance.It is concluded that plane of nutrition influences shedding, though some individuals within a breed are less affected than others. Two distinct varieties of coat retention were observed: one was of nutritional origin, the other inherent. Possible explanations of the differences are suggested.


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 96-105
Author(s):  
Vitaly Fyodorovich Poznin

The article investigates one of the aspects of psychology of art, namely, the role of different types of human memory — sensory, long-time, short-time — in the forming of an artistic image in the perception of an audiovisual entity. The audience’s perception of such specific cinematic methods as pan shot and dolly shot, as well as different types of parallel, associative and distance montage rests on the peculiarities of our short-time and long-time memory. On the other hand, the complex polyphonic combination of various visual chronotopes in modern films is based on the imitation of memory typical for our dreams.


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