scholarly journals Exploring the Multidimensional Links Between Trait Mindfulness and Trait Empathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Himichi ◽  
Hidekazu Osanai ◽  
Takayuki Goto ◽  
Hiroyo Fujita ◽  
Yuta Kawamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Effortful Control ◽  
State Level ◽  
Empathic Concern ◽  
Trait Mindfulness ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Trait Level ◽  
Trait Empathy ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Acting With Awareness

Empathy and mindfulness are currently major topics of scientific interest. Although it is well-known that mindfulness—typically as an outcome related to meditation—generates empathy at the state level, only a small number of studies have documented the trait (i.e., personality) level association between mindfulness and empathy. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms (subcomponents and mediator variables) that support this association remain unclear. Thus, here, with a focus on the trait level, we investigated relationships among multiple subcomponents of trait mindfulness and trait empathy (Study 1). Next, we reexamined the aforementioned relationships in an independent sample, with the further aim of investigating relevant mediation factors (Study 2). We found that two attention-related components of trait mindfulness—observing and acting with awareness—reliably and positively related to both affective and cognitive dimensions of trait empathy (i.e., empathic concern and perspective taking). Furthermore, we found that effortful control, reappraisal, and trait alexithymia mediated relationships between the aforementioned attention-related components of trait mindfulness and empathic concern. Taken together, our results suggest that the links between mindfulness and empathy are multidimensional and complex. These findings may ultimately contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the positive effects of meditation on empathy.

“I Really Liked That Movie”

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice E. Hall ◽  
Cheryl C. Bracken
Keyword(s):  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Empathic Concern ◽  
Personal Distress ◽  
Narrative Transportation ◽  
Perceived Realism ◽  
Trait Empathy ◽  
Different Types

The current study investigated the contributions of trait empathy and narrative transportation to audience members’ film enjoyment. Undergraduates (N = 199) evaluated two films they had seen recently and responded to items measuring different types of trait empathy, narrative transportation, film enjoyment, and perceived realism. Fantasy empathy, but not perspective taking, empathic concern, or personal distress, was found to be associated with narrative transportation. Transportation was found to be associated with enjoyment and perceived realism.

scholarly journals Feeling Touched: Empathy Is Associated With Performance in a Tactile Acuity Task

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Schaefer ◽  
Marcel Joch ◽  
Nikolas Rother
Keyword(s):  
Personality Trait ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Empathic Concern ◽  
The Body ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Tactile Acuity ◽  
Somatosensory Cortices ◽  
Trait Empathy ◽  
Healthy Participants

The concept of empathy describes our capacity to understand the emotions and intentions of others and to relate to our conspecifics. Numerous studies investigated empathy as a state as well as a stable personality trait. For example, recent studies in neuroscience suggest, among other brain areas such as the insula or the ACC, a role of the somatosensory cortices for empathy (e.g., when observing someone else being touched). Since the classic understanding of the primary somatosensory cortex is to represent touch on the body surface, we here aimed to test whether tactile performance is linked to the personality trait empathy. To test this, we examined the tactile acuity of 95 healthy participants (mean age 31 years) by using a two-point discrimination threshold task at the index fingers. Trait empathy was assessed by employing the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI), which measures self-reported empathy with four scales (empathic concern, perspective taking, fantasy, and personal distress). Results of regression analyses suggested the subscale empathic concern to be positively associated with performance in the tactile acuity task. We discuss this finding in the light of recent studies on empathy and consider possible implications of tactile training to enhance empathy.

Perception of Emotional Expressions in Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chit Yuen Yi ◽  
Matthew W. E. Murry ◽  
Amy L. Gentzler
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Emotion Perception ◽  
State Level ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Negative Emotionality ◽  
Basic Emotions ◽  
Perceived Intensity ◽  
Trait Level ◽  
Facial Expressions Of Emotion

Abstract. Past research suggests that transient mood influences the perception of facial expressions of emotion, but relatively little is known about how trait-level emotionality (i.e., temperament) may influence emotion perception or interact with mood in this process. Consequently, we extended earlier work by examining how temperamental dimensions of negative emotionality and extraversion were associated with the perception accuracy and perceived intensity of three basic emotions and how the trait-level temperamental effect interacted with state-level self-reported mood in a sample of 88 adults (27 men, 18–51 years of age). The results indicated that higher levels of negative mood were associated with higher perception accuracy of angry and sad facial expressions, and higher levels of perceived intensity of anger. For perceived intensity of sadness, negative mood was associated with lower levels of perceived intensity, whereas negative emotionality was associated with higher levels of perceived intensity of sadness. Overall, our findings added to the limited literature on adult temperament and emotion perception.

Peran trait mindfulness terhadap kesejahteraan psikologis pada lansia

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-122
Author(s):  
Ayu Suci Purnamaning Dyah ◽  
Endang Fourianalistyawati
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Trait Mindfulness ◽  
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Acting With Awareness

Memasuki masa lansia, individu mengalami banyak perubahan pada kondisi fisik, sosial, spiritual dan psikologisnya. Lansia yang tidak siap dengan perubahan tersebut akan rentan terhadap stres. Kondisi yang demikian dapat menurunkan kesejahteraan psikologis (psychological well-being) pada lansia.  Untuk  menangani  permasalahan  tersebut, lansia perlu mengembangkan sifat mindfulness  (kemampuan untuk berfokus pada apa yang terjadi saat ini) didalam dirinya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat apakah trait mindfulness berperan secara signifikan terhadap kesejahteraan psikologis pada lansia. Sampel penelitian  ialah orang-orang yang sudah tidak bekerja dan berdomisili di wilayah Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, dan Bekasi (n = 120). Penelitian  ini  menggunakan  adaptasi  skala  Five  Facet  Mindfulness Questionnaire untuk  mengukur  trait  mindfulness  dan  Scale  of Psychological Well Being untuk mengukur kesejahteraan psikologis. Hasil analisis regresi ganda menunjukkan empat dari lima dimensi trait mindfulnessberperan   signifikan   terhadap   beberapa   dimensi kesejahteraan psikologis. Dimensi-dimensi dari trait mindfulness tersebut yaitu acting with awareness, describing, non-reactivity, dan non-judging. Sementara itu, dimensi lainnya yang tidak berperan adalah observing.

scholarly journals Understanding the Links between Inferring Mental States, Empathy, and Burnout in Medical Contexts

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Naira Delgado ◽  
Helena Bonache ◽  
Moisés Betancort ◽  
Yurena Morera ◽  
Lasana T. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Empathic Concern ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Personal Distress

It is generally accepted that empathy should be the basis of patient care. However, this ideal may be unrealistic if healthcare professionals suffer adverse effects when engaging in empathy. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of inferring mental states and different components of empathy (perspective-taking; empathic concern; personal distress) in burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion; depersonalization; personal accomplishment). A total of 184 healthcare professionals participated in the study (23% male, Mage = 44.60; SD = 10.46). We measured participants’ empathy, the inference of mental states of patients, and burnout. Correlation analyses showed that inferring mental states was positively associated with perspective-taking and with empathic concern, but uncorrelated with personal distress. Furthermore, emotional exhaustion was related to greater levels of personal distress and greater levels of inferences of mental states. Depersonalization was associated with greater levels of personal distress and lower levels of empathic concern. Personal accomplishment was associated with the inference of mental states in patients, lower levels of personal distress, and perspective-taking. These results provide a better understanding of how different components of empathy and mental state inferences may preserve or promote healthcare professionals’ burnout.

scholarly journals Intentions versus Outcomes: Cooperation and Fairness in a Sequential Prisoner’s Dilemma with Nature

Games ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Garret Ridinger
Keyword(s):  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Prisoner's Dilemma ◽  
Prisoner’S Dilemma ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Empathic Concern ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Prisoner’S Dilemma Game ◽  
Psychometric Measures ◽  
Prisoner's Dilemma Game ◽  
First Mover

This paper investigates the importance of concerns about intentions and outcomes in a sequential prisoner’s dilemma game with nature. In the game, there is a chance that the first mover’s choice is reversed. This allows the separation of intended actions from the resulting outcomes. Equilibrium predictions from theoretical models of fairness are tested experimentally by varying the chance the first mover’s choice is reversed and whether the second mover observes the first mover’s choice. The results show that second mover cooperation is higher when the first mover has little control over their choice and when the second mover is not told what the first mover chose. While subject behavior is consistent with concerns for both intentions and outcomes, the results indicate that these concerns work in ways not predicted by current theoretical models. In addition, I find that psychometric measures of empathic concern and perspective taking are correlated with second mover cooperation and provide potential explanations for the experimental results.

scholarly journals The Experience of Empathy in Everyday Life

2021 ◽  
pp. 095679762199520
Author(s):  
Gregory John Depow ◽  
Zoë Francis ◽  
Michael Inzlicht
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Trait Empathy

We used experience sampling to examine perceptions of empathy in the everyday lives of a group of 246 U.S. adults who were quota sampled to represent the population on key demographics. Participants reported an average of about nine opportunities to empathize per day; these experiences were positively associated with prosocial behavior, a relationship not found with trait measures. Although much of the literature focuses on the distress of strangers, in everyday life, people mostly empathize with very close others, and they empathize with positive emotions 3 times as frequently as with negative emotions. Although trait empathy was negatively associated only with well-being, empathy in daily life was generally associated with increased well-being. Theoretically distinct components of empathy—emotion sharing, perspective taking, and compassion—typically co-occur in everyday empathy experiences. Finally, empathy in everyday life was higher for women and the religious but not significantly lower for conservatives and the wealthy.

scholarly journals A Mixed-Method Assessment of a 10-Day Mobile Mindfulness Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilana Haliwa ◽  
Cameron G. Ford ◽  
Jenna M. Wilson ◽  
Natalie J. Shook
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Trait Mindfulness ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Mindfulness Intervention ◽  
State Mindfulness ◽  
Trait Level ◽  
Mindfulness Interventions

Mobile mindfulness interventions represent a promising alternative to traditional in-person interventions that are resource demanding and have limited accessibility, preventing use by many populations. Despite greater accessibility and popularity of mobile mindfulness applications (apps), research is needed testing the effectiveness of brief interventions delivered via these platforms. The present study assessed the efficacy of a brief mobile mindfulness intervention compared to an active control for increasing state and trait mindfulness and improving mood, as well as the acceptability of the app, in a sample of undergraduate students. Participants (N=139; Mage=19.43years, 80.6% female, 83.5% White) were randomly assigned to either a 10-day mobile mindfulness (Headspace) or cognitive training (Peak) condition. Trait mindfulness was measured pre- and post-intervention. During the 10-day intervention, participants completed 10-min daily exercises on the assigned app, responded to daily questionnaires of state mindfulness and mood, and completed a daily written log of their reactions to the app exercises. Attrition was low (90% completion rate) and did not differ by condition. Participants in the mindfulness condition spent an average of 88.15min (SD=24.75) meditating out of the full 100min prescribed by the intervention. State mindfulness significantly increased across the 10-day intervention for participants in the mindfulness, but not the cognitive training, condition beginning around days 5 and 6. Some aspects of trait mindfulness increased and mood improved from pre- to post-intervention, but these changes were observed in both conditions (i.e., no significant differences were observed by condition). Qualitative analysis of open-ended reactions to the mindfulness app indicated that participants reported more likes than dislikes. Common themes for likes were that participants experienced feelings of calm and focus following the daily mindfulness exercises. Dislikes included discomfort and anxiety associated with increased awareness of thoughts and physical sensations. These findings suggest that while a brief mobile mindfulness intervention is acceptable to undergraduate college students and effective at increasing state mindfulness, a longer intervention may be needed in order to elicit corresponding changes in trait-level mindfulness or mood.

A-141 Vindicated by Awareness: Acting with Awareness May Compensate for Inhibitory Deficits in ADHD Symptom Burden

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1194-1194
Author(s):  
Maria E Dragulin ◽  
Claudia Jacova
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Adhd Symptom ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Trait Mindfulness ◽  
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Interference Test ◽  
Acting With Awareness

Abstract Objective To understand the role of trait mindfulness acting-with-awareness in the relationship between inhibitory control and ADHD symptom burden. Method We conducted a cross-sectional study with 103 adults, aged 18 to 86, mean age = 46, mean education = 15 years, 46% male. Participants were recruited in North Western Oregon counties. Eligible individuals were aged >18, fluent in English, and with normal global cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA>22). The presence of ADHD diagnoses/symptoms was not required. Participants were administered the Adult Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) Acting with Awareness, and the DKEFS Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT). We examined the contribution of CWIT (time/sec), acting-with-awareness (AA), and their interaction in age-adjusted multiple regression predicting AISRS total score. Results Descriptives for the measures of interest were AISRS (M = 19.21, SD = 12.72), CWIT (M = 55.66, SD = 15.27), and FFMQ-AA (M = 25.10, SD = 7.17). Both CWIT and FFMQ-AA predicted AISRS when analyzed independently (B = 0.274, p = 0.14, R2 = 0.13 and B = -0.633, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.45). In the combined model, FFMQ-AA (B = -1.06, p = 0.000) but not CWIT predicted AISRS, R2 = 0.47. The interaction was not significant, p = 0.55. Conclusion AA is a powerful predictor of ADHD symptom burden: it accounts for almost half of the variance, and removes any contribution from inhibitory control. Our finding suggests that trait mindfulness has a more important role in shaping ADHD than cognition.

Why Does it Feel Authentic to be and act Extraverted? Exploring the Mediating Role of Positive Affect

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Adam Wilt ◽  
Jessie Sun ◽  
Rowan Jacques-Hamilton ◽  
Luke D. Smillie
Keyword(s):  
Positive Affect ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Experience Sampling ◽  
State Level ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Sampling Protocol ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Trait Level

Extraverts report higher levels of authenticity and extraverted behavior predicts increased feelings of authenticity. Why? Across three studies, we examined positive affect as a mediator of the associations between extraversion and authenticity. In Study 1 (N = 205), we tested our mediation model at the trait level. Study 2 (N = 97) involved a ten-week lab-based experience sampling protocol, whereas Study 3 (N = 147) involved a preregistered week-long daily-life experience sampling protocol. These studies allowed us to test our mediation model at the state level. Positive affect explained moderate to very high proportions of the effects of extraversion on authenticity (Study 1 = 29%, Study 2 = 38%, Study 3 = 87%). We interpret these findings through the lens of cybernetic self-regulation, feelings-as-information, positive psychology, and humanistic perspectives, and propose that increased PA could also explain why extraversion is connected with other eudaimonic components of wellbeing.

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