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04:14
Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice
Published on: November 22, 2024
The surprising empathic abilities of rodents
1Department of Psychology and Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada. jeffrey.mogil@mcgill.ca
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|December 31, 2011
Abstract:
Many believe empathy and related pro-social behaviors to be the sole province of humans. The evolutionary antecedents of such phenomena, however, have been observed in lower mammals. By demonstrating empathy-based helping behavior in rats, a recently published study has provided clear-cut evidence that pro-social behaviors are not limited to humans.
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02:34Empathy
Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.
01:13Nonconscious Mimicry
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.