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HARMFUL ATTRIBUTIONS: THE ROLE OF MIND PERCEPTION
Caroline Silva1, Chia-Jung Tsay2
1University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
|January 24, 2024
Summary
Understanding reduced empathy for self-injury requires considering the individual's agency. Focusing on situational factors can improve observers' empathy and willingness to help those with a history of self-harm.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Empathy Research
Background:
- Lack of empathy towards individuals engaging in self-injurious behaviors is a significant issue.
- Understanding the psychological mechanisms behind this reduced empathy is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how knowledge of prior self-injury affects observers' empathy, perceived agency, perspective-taking, and willingness to help.
- To explore the interplay between perceived agency, empathy, and helping behaviors in observers.
Main Methods:
- Employed implicit and explicit measures across three distinct participant samples.
- Assessed observers' responses to targets with histories of deliberate versus accidental self-injury.
Main Results:
- Observers reported decreased empathy and perceived less agency in individuals with a history of deliberate self-injury compared to accidental injury.
- Reduced perceived agency mediated decreased empathy, while decreased empathy mediated lower willingness to help.
- When a victim had a history of deliberate self-injury, observers showed less empathy, compassion, and willingness to help.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest observers may struggle to empathize with self-injurious behaviors due to attributions of agency.
- Interventions encouraging focus on individual agency and situational explanations may enhance empathy and support for individuals with a history of self-injury.
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