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Peets K, Vecchio TD. The distinction between provoked and unprovoked aggression in toddlerhood, and associations with empathy‐related processes. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/sode.12650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kätlin Peets
- Department of Psychology St. John's University Jamaica United States
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Cristofani C, Sesso G, Cristofani P, Fantozzi P, Inguaggiato E, Muratori P, Narzisi A, Pfanner C, Pisano S, Polidori L, Ruglioni L, Valente E, Masi G, Milone A. The Role of Executive Functions in the Development of Empathy and Its Association with Externalizing Behaviors in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Other Psychiatric Comorbidities. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E489. [PMID: 32731515 PMCID: PMC7465618 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10080489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Executive functions have been previously shown to correlate with empathic attitudes and prosocial behaviors. People with higher levels of executive functions, as a whole, may better regulate their emotions and reduce perceived distress during the empathetic processes. Our goal was to explore the relationship between empathy and executive functioning in a sample of children and adolescents diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder alone or associated with comorbid Disruptive Behavior Disorders and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder. We also aimed to examine the role of empathic dimensions and executive skills in regulating externalizing behaviors. The 151 participants with ADHD were assigned to four groups according to their psychiatric comorbidity (either "pure" or with ASD and/or ODD/CD) and assessed by means of either parent- or self-reported questionnaires, namely the BRIEF-2, the BES, and the IRI. No questionnaire was found to discriminate between the four groups. Affective Empathy was found to positively correlate with Emotional and Behavioral Regulation competences. Furthermore, Aggressiveness and Oppositional Defiant Problems were positively associated with Executive Emotional and Behavioral Regulation competences. On the other hand, Rule-Breaking Behaviors and Conduct Problems were negatively associated with Affective Empathy and with Behavioral skills. Our study provides an additional contribution for a better understanding of the complex relationship between empathic competence and executive functions, showing that executive functioning and empathic attitudes interact with each other to regulate aggressive behaviors. This study further corroborates developmental models of empathy and their clinical implications, for which externalizing behaviors could be attenuated by enhancing executive functioning skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cristofani
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Gianluca Sesso
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Cristofani
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Pamela Fantozzi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Emanuela Inguaggiato
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Pietro Muratori
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Antonio Narzisi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Chiara Pfanner
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Simone Pisano
- Department of Neuroscience, AORN Santobono-Pausilipon, 80122 Naples, Italy;
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Lisa Polidori
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Laura Ruglioni
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Elena Valente
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Gabriele Masi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Annarita Milone
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
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Castro-Sánchez M, Zurita-Ortega F, Ruiz GRR, Chacón-Cuberos R. Explanatory model of violent behaviours, self-concept and empathy in schoolchildren. Structural equations analysis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217899. [PMID: 31419233 PMCID: PMC6697324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased visibility of bullying cases has led the scientific community to be more interested in analysing the factors affecting these behaviours in order to reduce bullying cases and their negative consequences. The aim of this study was to define and contrast an explanatory model that makes it possible to analyse the relationships between self-concept, empathy and violent behaviours in schoolchildren through structural equation analysis. The sample of this study is made up of 734 schoolchildren from the province of Granada (Spain), both male and female, aged between 10 and 12, and it consists of analysing self-concept (AF-5), empathy levels (TECA) and violent behaviour at schools (ECV). A structural equation model was performed and successfully adjusted (χ2 = 563.203; DF = 59; p < 0.001; CFI = 0.943; NFI = 0.937; IFI = 0.943; RMSEA = 0.076). A positive and direct relationship between self-concept and cognitive empathy has been found; manifest aggression is negatively related to self-concept. Similarly, affective empathy has a negative relationship with relational aggression. The main conclusions of this study are that the levels of self-concept and empathy represent protective factors against the development of violent and victimisation behaviours in schoolchildren.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Castro-Sánchez
- Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic and Corporal Expression, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Félix Zurita-Ortega
- Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic and Corporal Expression, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Ramón Chacón-Cuberos
- Department of Research Methods and Diagnosis in Education, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Yan Z, Hong S, Liu F, Su Y. A meta‐analysis of the relationship between empathy and executive function. Psych J 2019; 9:34-43. [DOI: 10.1002/pchj.311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Yan
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental HealthPeking University Beijing China
| | - Skylar Hong
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental HealthPeking University Beijing China
| | - Fuli Liu
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental HealthPeking University Beijing China
| | - Yanjie Su
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental HealthPeking University Beijing China
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Crespo-Llado MM, Vanderwert R, Roberti E, Geangu E. Eight-month-old infants' behavioral responses to peers' emotions as related to the asymmetric frontal cortex activity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17152. [PMID: 30464309 PMCID: PMC6249297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35219-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Infants are sensitive to and converge emotionally with peers' distress. It is unclear whether these responses extend to positive affect and whether observing peer emotions motivates infants' behaviors. This study investigates 8-month-olds' asymmetric frontal EEG during peers' cry and laughter, and its relation to approach and withdrawal behaviors. Participants observed videos of infant crying or laughing during two separate sessions. Frontal EEG alpha power was recorded during the first, while infants' behaviors and emotional expressions were recorded during the second session. Facial and vocal expressions of affect suggest that infants converge emotionally with their peers' distress, and, to a certain extent, with their happiness. At group level, the crying peer elicited right lateralized frontal activity. However, those infants with reduced right and increased left frontal activity in this situation, were more likely to approach their peer. Overall, 8-month-olds did not show asymmetric frontal activity in response to peer laughter. But, those infants who tended to look longer at their happy peer were more likely to respond with left lateralized frontal activity. The link between variations in left frontal activity and simple approach behaviors indicates the presence of a motivational dimension to infants' responses to distressed peers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Crespo-Llado
- Lancaster University Department of Psychology Bailrigg, Fylde College, Lancaster, UK
| | - Ross Vanderwert
- Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental Science School of Psychology - Cardiff University Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff, UK
| | - Elisa Roberti
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca Department of Psychology, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Geangu
- University of York, Department of Psychology, Heslington, York, UK.
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Huang H, Su Y, Jin J. Empathy-Related Responding in Chinese Toddlers: Factorial Structure and Cognitive Contributors. INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2016; 26:e1983. [PMID: 28701902 PMCID: PMC5484378 DOI: 10.1002/icd.1983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Revised: 12/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The critical role of the second year of life in the development of empathy is well accepted by psychologists. However, the developmental trends of the different components of empathy and the potential factors underlying these components during this critical period remain unclear. Eighty‐four Chinese toddlers in the second year of life participated in the present study. Empathy‐related responses were observed during three simulated procedures performed by each child's primary caregiver, the experimenter and a baby doll. An exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the different components of empathy. The shared representation of the self and others was measured using the Tasks for the Observation of Self‐Concept, self/other awareness was measured with a series of mirror tests and inhibitory control was measured using the Cylinder Inhibitory Control Task. The results showed that the empathy of Chinese toddlers contains three factors: sympathy, personal distress and orientation. Potential cognitive factors contribute to the different components of empathy through both independent and joint effects. © 2016 The Authors Infant and Child Development Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heqing Huang
- Department of Psychology and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health Peking University Beijing China.,College of Early Childhood Education Capital Normal University Beijing China
| | - Yanjie Su
- Department of Psychology and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health Peking University Beijing China
| | - Jian Jin
- Department of Psychology and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health Peking University Beijing China
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