DANCEST 805 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Empathic Concern, Social Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology
Document Summary
Concept of empathy has become an umbrella term source of confusion. Aim of article: illuminate complex relation between morality and empathy by drawing on theories and research in evolutionary biology, developmental psychology, and social neuroscience. Although there is a relationship between morality and empathy argue in this article that these two constructs should not be used interchangeably and nature of relationship is not straightforward. Empathy essential role in interpersonal relationships, lack of empathy is characteristic of psychopathy. Utilitarian judgments are facilitated by lack of empathic concern. In reality empathy is not always direct avenue to moral behavior at times empathy can interfere with moral decisions making by e. g. favoring kin and in-group members. Studies in social psychology have shown morality and empathy are two independent motives. In resource-allocation situations in which two motives conflict, empathy can become source of immoral behavior. Morality: theorized to encompass notions of justice, fairness, and rights as well as maxims regarding interpersonal relations.
