Empathy and Psychopathy Review 2005
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Questions and Answers

Which factor plays a significant role in shaping human capacities for behaving compassionately or aggressively?

  • Environmental priming alone
  • Social bonding experiences
  • Both genetic disposition and environmental priming (correct)
  • Genetic disposition alone
  • In what type of environment are exploitative and self-focused strategies considered better reproductive bets according to the text?

  • Safe and highly investing environments
  • Low-investing and high-threat environments (correct)
  • Environments with high genetic diversity
  • Low-investing and low-threat environments
  • What is a key advantage of developing phenotypes that build trusting, supportive relationships according to the text?

  • Decreased altruism within the population
  • Building supportive social networks (correct)
  • Isolation from conspecifics
  • Increased aggression towards conspecifics
  • Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a factor that shapes evolved phenotypes for reproductive strategies in human populations?

    <p>Dietary habits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of behavior is advantageous in safe and highly investing social niches?

    <p>Building trusting relationships and being altruistic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term refers to the social motivations that depend on moment-by-moment interactions and shifting physiological states?

    <p>Social mentalities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two basic forms into which social mentalities can be divided?

    <p>Prosocial and self-focused</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compassion is rooted in which two motivational systems?

    <p>Care-giving and friendship/alliance-building</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some indications that suggest compromised caring motivational capacities in individuals?

    <p>Polymorphisms of the oxytocin gene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are different social mentalities influenced by context?

    <p>They are sensitive to context</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the ecological context influence men's behavior according to the text?

    <p>In dangerous ecologies, men are more likely to be competitive and aggressive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is highlighted as a risk factor for the development of criminal behavior?

    <p>Early neglect and abuse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What plays a role in shaping genetic expressions?

    <p>Methylation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the potential outcomes mentioned if an individual was raised in a violent drug gang?

    <p>Ending up in prison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is highlighted as motivating compassionate acts according to the text?

    <p>Evolved care-focused motivation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of 'distress sensitivity' in the context of parenting?

    <p>It helps parents understand the potential harm they could cause to their infants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the competency for sympathy-based distress tolerance important?

    <p>To avoid shutting down from the distress one causes others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does 'empathy' differ from 'emotional contagion' according to the text?

    <p>Emotional contagion is about feeling in tune with others, while empathy is about understanding what people are feeling and why.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to be 'non-judgmental' according to the text?

    <p>To support care-focused competencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does 'building compassion motivation' relate to developing competencies according to the text?

    <p>Building compassion motivation involves cultivating and developing necessary competencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the text suggest about the relationship between compassion and selfishness?

    <p>Compassion and selfishness are opposing motives that require intentional cultivation to develop compassion over selfishness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Latin origin of the word 'compassion'?

    <p>To suffer with</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the concept of compassion as discussed in the text?

    <p>Compassion involves 'a commitment to try to alleviate and prevent suffering.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the CFT model of compassion, how many basic characteristics are associated with the first psychology of engagement?

    <p>Six characteristics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does the text suggest it is easier to be compassionate towards people we know and like?

    <p>Because motivation plays a role in being compassionate, especially towards familiar individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is emphasized as important for compassion in the text?

    <p>Logical thinking and reasoning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what situation might one behave compassionately even if they don't feel compassionate?

    <p>When it aligns with their self-identity and values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can sometimes stimulate people to 'fight' for justice?

    <p>Anger at injustice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Hermanto et al. find in their test of social mentality theory?

    <p>High care-seeking and high care-giving predicted high self-compassion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is suggested to play a salient role in psychopathology, according to the text?

    <p>Inability to respond to compassion from others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is suggested as a possible reason for individuals with psychopathic traits not being physiologically responsive to distress signals?

    <p>Lack of emotional empathy due to a deficit in caring motivation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes empathy from compassion?

    <p>Competency versus caring motivation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Meffert et al. (2013) find regarding people with psychopathic traits when exposed to painful stimuli?

    <p>They lacked empathic neurophysiological profiles compared to controls.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do people with Asperger syndrome struggle with perspective taking according to the text?

    <p>Difficulty in emotional reactions to pictures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Zaki (2014) suggest influences how empathy is used in social contexts?

    <p>The specific underlying motivation for the behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common trait associated with criminal behavior?

    <p>Callousness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the sources of callousness mentioned in the text?

    <p>Sadistic pleasures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What personality trait is especially associated with dismissing individuals perceived as inferior?

    <p>Narcissism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the counterpoint to callousness as discussed in the text?

    <p>Empathy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might it be difficult for some individuals to be in tune with the harm they cause others?

    <p>Dissociation from their own trauma</p> Signup and view all the answers

    One of the competencies for empathy is emotional ________.

    <p>contagion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of parenting, 'distress sensitivity' is important to prevent potential ________ to infants.

    <p>damage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compassion can falter if there is a loss in capacities for mentalizing, distress tolerance, or even ________.

    <p>guilt</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The text mentions that 'hurt people hurt people' as a saying to highlight the cycle of ________ behavior.

    <p>abusive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Developing competencies for compassion motivation involves cultivating skills like attention sensitivity, mindfulness, mentalizing, and distress ________.

    <p>tolerance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compassion is obviously the opposite motivation to __________, threat-based aggression, greed, and basic callousness.

    <p>selfishness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The competency for sympathy-based distress tolerance is important for developing __________.

    <p>compassion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the parent-child relationship, distress calls and disease signals produce approach and caring behaviour, highlighting the importance of __________.

    <p>compassion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The word compassion comes from the Latin word compati meaning 'to suffer with', but today it is defined as 'a sensitivity to suffering in self and others with a commitment to try to alleviate and prevent it', emphasizing the role of __________.

    <p>motivation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compassion is more than good intentions or spontaneous acts of kindness; it involves acquiring the wisdom, knowledge, expertise, and at times courage to act and do something about suffering, highlighting the importance of __________.

    <p>compassion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    One of the most salient variations in human populations is the degree of prosocial, helpful, and caring behavior conspecifics show each other, in contrast to aggressive and exploitative behavior. Human capacities for behaving compassionately and morally, or aggressively and immorally, are related to evolved phenotypes which are shaped and choreographed via the interaction of genetic disposition and environmental priming and shaping. Phenotypes, for reproductive strategies, emerged to fit particular social niches. In safe and highly investing social niches it is an advantage to develop phenotypes that can exploit that niche by building trusting, supportive relationships and by being relatively altruistic and compassionate to others; having a brain that is motivated for that. In contrast, in low-investing and high-threat environments these phenotypes may be disadvantaged, and more exploitative, self-focused strategies are better reproductive bets. Hence, although different alleles of neurotransmitter genes may be associated with these different phenotypes, it is the interaction of genetic and environmental factors that determines the ______.

    <p>outcome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Natural phenotypes can be classified as psychopathologies or dysfunctions but may actually represent variations on reproductive strategies and are normal phenotypic variations within populations. Human capacities for behaving compassionately and morally, or aggressively and immorally, are related to evolved phenotypes shaped by genetic disposition and environmental priming. Phenotypes for reproductive strategies emerged to fit particular social niches. Developing phenotypes that build trusting, supportive relationships and being altruistic and compassionate to others can be advantageous in safe and highly investing social niches. In contrast, in low-investing and high-threat environments, more exploitative, self-focused strategies may be better reproductive bets. Although different alleles of neurotransmitter genes play a role, it is the interaction of genetic disposition and environmental priming that shapes these evolved ______.

    <p>phenotypes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Human capacities for behaving compassionately and morally, or aggressively and immorally, are related to evolved phenotypes. These phenotypes are shaped and choreographed via the interaction of genetic disposition and environmental priming and shaping. Phenotypes for reproductive strategies emerged to fit particular social niches. In safe and highly investing social niches, it is advantageous to develop phenotypes that can exploit that niche by building trusting, supportive relationships and by being relatively altruistic and compassionate to others; having a brain that is motivated for that. In contrast, in low-investing and high-threat environments, these phenotypes may be disadvantaged, and more exploitative, self-focused strategies are better reproductive bets. The text suggests that the interaction of genetic disposition and environmental factors determines the evolved ______.

    <p>phenotypes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The text highlights that different alleles of neurotransmitter genes play a role in shaping evolved phenotypes for reproductive strategies in human populations. These phenotypes emerged to fit particular social niches, with safe and highly investing social niches favoring the development of phenotypes that can exploit trust, support, and altruism. In contrast, in low-investing and high-threat environments, more exploitative and self-focused strategies may be advantageous. Although genetic disposition is important, it is the interaction of genetic disposition and environmental priming that ultimately shapes these evolved ______.

    <p>phenotypes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The text mentions that evolved phenotypes for reproductive strategies in human populations are shaped by the interaction of genetic disposition and environmental priming. These phenotypes emerged to fit particular social niches, with safe and highly investing environments favoring the development of trusting, supportive relationships and altruistic behavior. In contrast, low-investing and high-threat environments may require more exploitative and self-focused strategies. While different alleles of neurotransmitter genes may be involved, the text emphasizes that it is the interaction between genetic disposition and environmental factors that determines the shaping of these evolved ______.

    <p>phenotypes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In dangerous ecologies, men are much more likely to be competitive and aggressive towards each other, with clear gender divisions in roles and power, and issues of honour and perceived reputation status dominate self-presentation. In contrast, in benevolent ecologies, men are much more likely to regard the control of emotion and peaceful coexistence as higher values and more parental investment in childcare. Given this, criminal behaviors and those related to relatively callous actions against others are more common in low-investing and high-threat environments. Here the evidence is clear that early neglect and abuse are very strong risk factors for the development of criminal behavior, partly because of underlying untreated ______.

    <p>PTSD</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Indeed, it is very clear that early backgrounds even shape genetic expressions through a process called ______.

    <p>methylation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    This can be personalized for clients by inviting them to think about the therapist. For example: If I had been kidnapped as a three-day-old baby and raised in a violent drug gang, then this version of Paul Gilbert would not exist and in its place would be a genetically expressive, psychologically and socially very different individual who may well be in prison, rich, or ______.

    <p>dead</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In every individual are multiple possible versions of the self that emerge according to their social niche in which they grow; the self and its strategies are partly socially constructed, played out through brain patterns. The question today is how happy are you with the version of you that has been created for you not by you, and how much would you like to change it and discover and cultivate new versions that may be more conducive to yours and others' well-being. Indeed, this empathic connection, arising from scientific knowledge, to the potential ‘criminality’ within each of us, is a therapeutic compassionate act and links us to our common ______.

    <p>humanity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compassion is rooted in evolved care-focused motivation and contextualized by the fact that the human mind is organized around a number of different and often competing motivational systems. Although there is no agreed nosology for motivational systems, there are two basic distinctions. The first is the distinction between social and non-social motives. Unlike non-social motives for eating or nest building, social motives are dependent upon complex social interactions where processing systems need to be motivated to create a certain type of role relationship and able to send the appropriate signals indicating to another their preparedness to enter into that type of relationship. So, for example, in animal courting displays, if those signals become mis-attuned then one or both parties may take flight or even ______ the other.

    <p>attack</p> Signup and view all the answers

    People with psychopathic traits may lack ______ motivation

    <p>caring</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In CFT, it's important to distinguish between a competency like empathy and the underlying ______ motivation

    <p>caring</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compassionate behavior is how we take the actions we need to alleviate suffering and promote ______

    <p>flourishing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with Asperger syndrome may struggle with ______ taking

    <p>perspective</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An agoraphobic requires the courage to go out and learn to tolerate ______

    <p>anxiety</p> Signup and view all the answers

    People can be very motivated to do things but not very competent, whereas others can be very competent but lack ______

    <p>motivation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    To be effective, empathy training must be paired with genuine care and ______ training

    <p>compassion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sometimes anger at injustice stimulates people to 'fight' for ______ for the benefit of others

    <p>justice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a test of social mentality theory, Hermanto et al. found that the combination of high care-seeking and high care-giving predicted the highest level of self-compassion and ______

    <p>self-reassurance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    There is increasing evidence to suggest that the inability to respond to compassion from others plays a salient role in ______

    <p>psychopathology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Prosocial motivation is the counterpoint to ______

    <p>callousness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Some forensic programmes focus on cultivating prosocial behaviour to develop more empathy for others and the need to experience compassion and empathy themselves, although this aspect can be lacking in individuals with unprocessed shame and ______

    <p>grief</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals who are dissociated from their own trauma and the harm that was done to them, particularly as children, may find it difficult to be in tune with the harm they cause others due to unprocessed shame and ______

    <p>trauma</p> Signup and view all the answers

    One reason individuals may be dissociated from the harm they cause others is because they have unprocessed shame and grief, which holds them in a self-focused threat orientation to the ______

    <p>world</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The text mentions that 'hurt people hurt people' as a saying to highlight the cycle of ______ behavior

    <p>hurtful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Social mentalities can be divided into two basic forms: 1) those that are prosocial and focused on the well-being of others; and 2) those that are self-focused, either harm avoidance and/or acquisitive controlling, with little regard to others; they are obviously not mutually exclusive though. These can be subdivided into motivational systems for: a) care seeking; b) care eliciting; c) cooperation and friendship formation; d) competitiveness; and e) ____________.

    <p>sexuality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compassion is rooted in both the care-giving and friendship/alliance-building motivational systems with the recognition that evolution has put some constraints around these motives. For example, we tend to be compassionate to those we are (kin) related to, or those we are forming cooperative friendships with, whereas we are much more likely to be competitive, even hostile, to those we don’t like or see as out-group enemies. So caring motives versus dominance seeking ones can be in conflict. This raises the intriguing question of whether or not some individuals are compromised in their actual caring motivational capacities and competencies, or whether they tend to classify most individuals as potential threats to them and as out-group members. There are certainly indications that some of the neurophysiological underpinnings of caring behaviours such as polymorphisms of the oxytocin gene and the myelinated parasympathetic system are compromised in some individuals. In addition, there is neurophysiological evidence that people who have not been able to process their own trauma or emotional pain may lack the capacity to be empathic for the pain they cause others. Compassion has been labelled a social mentality to indicate that it’s a socially co-created process in that it is dependent upon attending to social signals, interpreting and then responding to those signals and responding to the respondents’ response in a flow of dynamic, ongoing, reciprocal relationship dances. Hence, competitive and sexual behaviour are also social mentalities, dependent upon complex dynamic, reciprocal interactions. So a social mentality is simply a social motive that is textured by the ‘social dances’ it engages and creates. These dances can also operate inside our Compassion Focused Therapy heads and in the fantasies we form, e.g. imagining sexual, assertive, ______ and being physiologically changed as a result. They can also play out in our own self-to-self relating (e.g. self-criticism can play out dominant/subordinate forms of relating). Importantly, different social mentalities organise and are organised by different psychological and physiological systems which in turn represent phenotypic strategies. So if we are organised and orientated for (say) self-focused competitiveness, or threat and defence, then our whole way of attending, thinking and relating to others will be different than if we are orientated for developing friendships, cooperation or caring. Social mentalities are very sensitive to context. So care-focused and compassion-focused social mentalities will be linked to history of social context and be much more likely to be recruited in affiliative than hostile contexts.

    <p>fun interactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compassion is rooted in both the care-giving and friendship/alliance-building motivational systems with the recognition that evolution has put some constraints around these motives. For example, we tend to be compassionate to those we are (kin) related to, or those we are forming cooperative friendships with, whereas we are much more likely to be competitive, even hostile, to those we don’t like or see as out-group enemies. So caring motives versus dominance seeking ones can be in conflict. This raises the intriguing question of whether or not some individuals are compromised in their actual caring motivational capacities and competencies, or whether they tend to classify most individuals as potential threats to them and as out-group members. There are certainly indications that some of the neurophysiological underpinnings of caring behaviours such as polymorphisms of the oxytocin gene and the myelinated parasympathetic system are compromised in some individuals. In addition, there is neurophysiological evidence that people who have not been able to process their own trauma or emotional pain may lack the capacity to be empathic for the pain they cause others. Compassion has been labelled a social mentality to indicate that it’s a socially co-created process in that it is dependent upon attending to social signals, interpreting and then responding to those signals and responding to the respondents’ response in a flow of dynamic, ongoing, reciprocal relationship dances. Hence, competitive and sexual behaviour are also social mentalities, dependent upon complex dynamic, reciprocal interactions. So a social mentality is simply a social motive that is textured by the ‘social dances’ it engages and creates. These dances can also operate inside our Compassion Focused Therapy heads and in the fantasies we form, e.g. imagining sexual, assertive, ____________ and being physiologically changed as a result. They can also play out in our own self-to-self relating (e.g. self-criticism can play out dominant/subordinate forms of relating).

    <p>assertive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    These dances can also operate inside our Compassion Focused Therapy heads and in the fantasies we form, e.g. imagining sexual, ____________, fun interactions and being physiologically changed as a result.

    <p>fun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    These dances can also operate inside our Compassion Focused Therapy heads and in the fantasies we form, e.g. imagining sexual, assertive, ____________ and being physiologically changed as a result.

    <p>interactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

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