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Related Concept Videos

Empathy02:34

Empathy

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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. 
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Motivational Bias01:25

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Cognitive bias results from limitations in thinking and information processing, leading to systematic errors in judgment. Conversely, motivational bias stems from personal desires or emotions, causing distortions in perception to align with self-interest. Motivational bias influences how individuals perceive and attribute causes to events, often shaped by personal needs, goals, and self-esteem preservation. This bias can distort judgment, leading to inaccurate assessments of success, failure,...
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Voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people is called prosocial behavior. Why do people help other people? Is personal benefit such as feeling good about oneself the only reason people help one another?
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Cognitive Development During Adolescence01:18

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During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
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Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

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One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.  
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Fundamental Attribution Error01:14

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According to some social psychologists, people tend to overemphasize internal factors as explanations—or attributions—for the behavior of other people. They tend to assume that the behavior of another person is a trait of that person, and to underestimate the power of the situation on the behavior of others. They tend to fail to recognize when the behavior of another is due to situational variables, and thus to the person’s state. This erroneous assumption is...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice
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Empathic motivation: A new perspective on empathy deficit.

Yabo Ge1, Binghai Sun1, Weijian Li2

  • 1School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.

Acta Psychologica
|March 25, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Empathy deficits may stem from a lack of motivation, not just ability. Understanding empathic motivation is key to developing effective interventions for conditions linked to low empathy.

Keywords:
Empathic abilityEmpathic motivationEmpathyEmpathy intervention

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Social Sciences

Background:

  • Empathy is crucial for social interaction, and deficits are linked to aggression and prejudice.
  • Traditionally, empathy deficits were viewed as an inability to empathize.
  • Recent research suggests people may choose not to empathize due to effort or misaligned goals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present empathic motivation as a new perspective on empathy deficits.
  • To clarify the relationship between empathic ability and motivation.
  • To explore potential mechanisms and interventions for empathic motivation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing recent advances in empathy research.
  • Analysis of distinctions and connections between empathic ability and motivation.
  • Exploration of motivational research insights for intervention design.

Main Results:

  • Empathic motivation offers a complementary view to ability-focused empathy frameworks.
  • Motivation influences whether individuals engage their empathic capacity.
  • Understanding motivation can inform targeted empathy interventions.

Conclusions:

  • Empathy deficits are not solely due to a lack of ability but also motivation.
  • Empathic motivation is a critical factor in social functioning.
  • Future research should focus on the mechanisms and applications of empathic motivation.