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Empathy as a guide for understanding the balancing of Distancing-Embracing with negative art
Gernot Gerger1, Tomohiro Ishizu1, Matthew Pelowski1
1Faculty of Psychology,University of Vienna,1010 Vienna,Austria.gernot.gerger@univie.ac.atmatthew.pelowski@univie.ac.athttp://homepage.univie.ac.at/gernot.gerger/.
Abstract:
We connect the Distancing-Embracing model to theoretical and empirical evidence regarding empathy, which raises questions about the ordering and modulation of distancing in particular. Namely, distancing may not be a binary, continuously on/off process. Rather we suggest that changes in distancing as actualized via the relation between the individual and art (e.g., through empathy) might be a useful avenue for further consideration.
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