Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
04:14
Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice
Published on: November 22, 2024
1.1K
A meta-analysis of the relationship between empathy and executive function.
Zhiqiang Yan1, Skylar Hong1, Fuli Liu1
1School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Psych Journal
|August 9, 2019
Summary
Executive function (EF) positively correlates with empathy. Cognitive empathy shows a stronger link to EF subcomponents like inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility than affective empathy.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Executive function (EF) and empathy are crucial cognitive and social-emotional processes.
- Understanding their relationship is key to explaining social cognition and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively synthesize the relationship between executive function and empathy.
- To identify moderators influencing this relationship, particularly empathy subtypes and EF components.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive meta-analysis of 18 studies with 6006 participants.
- Inclusion of studies from Chinese and English databases.
- Random effects modeling to aggregate effect sizes.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between overall executive function and empathy (r = .14, p < .001).
- Executive function was more strongly associated with cognitive empathy (r = .20, p < .001) than affective empathy (r = .09, p = .03).
- Specific EF components like inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility were linked to cognitive empathy, while inhibitory control also related to affective empathy.
Conclusions:
- The association between executive function and empathy is multifaceted, varying with specific EF subcomponents and empathy dimensions.
- Future research should dissect these specific relationships to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
- Findings inform our understanding of how executive functions support empathic responding.
Keywords:
cognitive flexibilityempathyexecutive function (EF)inhibitory controlmeta-analysisworking memoryMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:34Empathy
10.1K
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.
10.1K
02:12Relationship Formation
45.2K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
45.2K
01:28Ending Relationships
172
The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
172
01:09Directing Effect of Substituents: meta-Directing Groups
5.8K
Substituents on the benzene ring that direct an incoming electrophile to undergo substitution at the meta position are called meta directors. All meta directors either have a positive charge on the atom directly bonded to the ring or a partial positive charge. These groups function by withdrawing electrons from the ring through inductive and resonance effects. Consider the carbocation intermediates formed upon the addition of an electrophile on nitrobenzene at the...
5.8K
01:27Relationship Growth
208
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
208
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
264
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
264