Article
Psychiatry
Brian D. Vickers, Rachael D. Seidler, R. Brent Stansfield, Daniel H. Weissman, Stephanie D. Preston
Summary: To investigate the role of the motor system in human altruism, researchers contrasted three charity conditions and found that observing neonates in immediate need elicited stronger brain activation in motor-preparatory regions, leading to increased donations. This finding sheds light on the evolution of altruistic behavior.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
David B. Yaden, Salvatore Giorgi, Matthew Jordan, Anneke Buffone, Johannes C. Eichstaedt, H. Andrew Schwartz, Lyle Ungar, Paul Bloom
Summary: Many scholars argue that empathy is crucial for other-regarding sentiments and plays a significant role in our moral lives, while compassion is also seen as a relevant force for prosocial motivation and action. This study, using computational linguistics, explores the relationship between empathy and compassion. Analysis of Facebook posts reveals that individuals high in empathy use different language than those high in compassion, and high empathy without compassion is associated with negative health outcomes, while high compassion without empathy is related to positive health outcomes, lifestyle choices, and charitable giving. These findings support a moral motivation grounded in compassion rather than empathy.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Chen Yang, Mengying Zhao, Chunya Xie, Jingyi Li
Summary: The research found that individuals stimulated by infant schema cues were more willing to donate, with empathy playing a mediating role in this relationship. Additionally, gender moderated the influence of infant schema cues on donation intention.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Francis Stevens, Katherine Taber
Summary: Empathy is composed of multiple dimensions and cannot simply be defined as a single term. Recent research suggests that affective empathy plays an important role in promoting pro-social behavior, but there is also evidence to show contradictory effects. Individuals' responses to the suffering of others may lead to different emotional reactions, subsequently influencing motivation for engaging in pro-social behavior.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
David Walewijns, Wannes Heirman, Rowan Daneels
Summary: This study examines the potential of virtual reality (VR) technology to increase donation rates for charitable organizations. Using a 360 degrees video documentary, the study investigates the impact of empathy-inducing VR content on donation intentions. The results show that VR, and particularly empathy, significantly influence individuals' willingness to donate, although skepticism regarding actual donations remains.
COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Eliana Hadjiandreou, C. Daryl Cameron
Summary: Adversity experiences are not only related to empathy and prosocial behavior, but also bring unique advantages in terms of identity memberships and their connections to collective action and harmonious intergroup relations. Challenges and future directions for studying adversity as a source of identity are discussed.
TRENDS IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Klaudia Misiolek, Marta Klimczak, Magdalena Chroszcz, Lukasz Szumiec, Anna Bryksa, Karolina Przyborowicz, Jan Rodriguez Parkitna, Zofia Harda
Summary: It was found that both male and female laboratory mice exhibited prosocial choices in a task, but only female mice increased the frequency of these choices during the test. However, both sexes showed similar rewarding effects of social contact and no difference in their ability to recognize the affective state of another individual.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Da Song, Chunjian Wang, Yue Jin, Yujun Deng, Yan Yan, Deheng Wang, Zilu Zhu, Zunji Ke, Zhe Wang, Yili Wu, Junjun Ni, Hong Qing, Zhenzhen Quan
Summary: In this study, researchers investigated the neural basis of prosocial behavior in mice using a lever-switching task. They found that harm avoidance behavior was mediated by self-experience, visual and social contact, and involved the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the mediodorsal thalamus (MDL) neural circuit. Activation and inhibition of this circuit affected the mice's ability to avoid harm to others.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
James N. Kirby, Emma Seppala, Matti Wilks, C. Daryl Cameron, Cassandra L. Tellegen, Dong T. H. Nguyen, Supriya Misra, Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Matthew Feinberg, Daniel Martin, James Doty
Summary: Positive attitudes towards compassion are strongly associated with emotions, self-reported expression, and compassionate behaviors. Negative attitudes towards compassion are only related to emotions and self-reported expression, not to compassionate behavior. Fears of compassion for others have the strongest impact on inhibiting compassionate outcomes.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Social
Robin Bergh, David Reinstein
Summary: This study examines the relationship between helping behaviors driven by emotional reactions to individual suffering and information about charity efficiency and effectiveness. The results show that images of identified victims influence donation propensity, while efficiency and effectiveness information does not impact donations.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Abeer Almaghrabi, Areej Alhogail
Summary: The rapid growth of modern technologies has encouraged non-profit organizations to utilize blockchain technology to improve charity donation processes. This study proposes a blockchain-based donation traceability framework to enhance transparency and traceability in the donation process, improving trust and reducing uncertainty.
JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY-COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qingke Guo, Sisi Li, Jingu Liang, Xinxin Yu, Yiqing Lv
Summary: This study examined the role of dispositional mindfulness in the association between intelligence and prosocial behavior among college students. The results confirmed a positive relationship between intelligence and prosocial behavior, with empathy serving as a potential mediator. However, the study also found that dispositional mindfulness negatively moderated the associations between these variables.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cristopher J. Tietsort, Sarah J. Tracy, Elissa A. Adame
Summary: Employee and organizational sustainability are threatened by stress, burnout, and mental health challenges. Compassion at work can alleviate this suffering, but it often fails to unfold within organizations. This study explores the concerns of suffering employees in expressing and discussing suffering at work, and how these concerns limit their ability to receive compassion. The findings highlight the importance of addressing organizational norms, power dynamics, and image management to promote greater employee sustainability and well-being.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andre Hajek, Hans-Helmut Koenig
Summary: The study aimed to clarify the level and correlates of empathy and altruism in the German population during the Covid-19 pandemic. A nationally representative survey was conducted and found moderately high levels of empathy and altruism in Germany during this time. Women, individuals with children, and individuals with migration background showed higher levels of empathy and altruism. Identifying the correlates of these factors may help address individuals with very low levels of empathy and altruism.
Article
Psychology, Educational
Marcela Kappelmayer, Andrea Czar, Maria Tresca, Paola D'Adamo, Mariana Lozada
Summary: Research shows that cultivating compassion and altruism in children is beneficial for individual and collective well-being. This study explores the effects of an intervention program in Buenos Aires, Argentina, aimed at developing affective empathy, compassion, and altruism in 9-year-old children. The intervention was successful in promoting altruistic and compassionate attitudes in the children, while no significant effects were observed in the waitlist group.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Farrah N. Madison, Verner P. Bingman, Tom Smulders, Christine R. Lattin
Summary: Although research on the avian hippocampus has been limited, it is crucial for understanding its evolution and changes over time. The avian hippocampus plays important roles in spatial cognition as well as regulating anxiety, approach-avoidance behavior, and stress responses. Future research should focus on elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms, including endocrinology, to resolve outstanding questions about avian hippocampal function and organization.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Judith A. H. Smit, Riet Vooijs, Peter Lindenburg, Alexander T. Baugh, Wouter Halfwerk
Summary: This study investigates the effects of urbanization on hormone levels in tungara frogs and found that urban frogs and forest frogs have different endocrine phenotypes. Exposure to urban noise and light pollution led to an increase in testosterone and a decrease in corticosterone in urban frogs, while forest frogs showed no endocrine response to sensory pollutants. These results suggest that urbanization can modulate hormone levels and influence behavior in frogs.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hannah D. Fulenwider, Yangmiao Zhang, Andrey E. Ryabinin
Summary: Social hierarchies have significant effects on overall health of individuals in animal groups, particularly the lowest-ranking individuals. Tube test can be used to determine social rank in male and female mice, and the complex interactions between social rank, sex, environment, and testing length influence peptide levels.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2024)
