The complex relation between morality and empathy

Jean Decety; Jason M Cowell

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2014.04.008

The complex relation between morality and empathy

Trends Cogn Sci. 2014 Jul;18(7):337-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2014.04.008.

Authors

Jean Decety¹, Jason M Cowell²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: decety@uchicago.edu.
² Department of Psychology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

PMID: 24972506
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2014.04.008

Abstract

Morality and empathy are fundamental components of human nature across cultures. However, the wealth of empirical findings from developmental, behavioral, and social neuroscience demonstrates a complex relation between morality and empathy. At times, empathy guides moral judgment, yet other times empathy can interfere with it. To better understand such relations, we propose abandoning the catchall term of empathy in favor of more precise concepts, such as emotional sharing, empathic concern, and affective perspective-taking.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brain / physiology
Emotions / physiology
Empathy* / physiology
Humans
Models, Psychological
Morals*
Social Behavior