Challenges in the comparative study of empathy and related phenomena in animals

NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS

卷:112

Review

Adriaense, J. E. C.^1,2,3  Koski, S. E.⁴  Huber, L.⁵  Lamm, C.^1,3 

[1] Univ Vienna, Fac Psychol, Dept Cognit Emot & Methods Psychol, Social Cognit & Affect Neurosci Unit, Vienna, Austria

[2] Univ Vienna, Fac Life Sci, Dept Cognit Biol, Vienna, Austria

[3] Univ Vienna, Vienna Cognit Sci Hub, Vienna, Austria

[4] Univ Helsinki, Fac Social Sci, Unioninkatu 35, Helsinki 00014, Finland

[5] Univ Vienna, Med Univ Vienna, Univ Vet Med Vienna, Comparat Cognit,Messerli Res Inst, Vienna, Austria

关键词: Comparative research;    Empathy;    Affect;    Emotions;    Animal;    Emotional contagion;    Consolation;    Sympathy;    Prosociality;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.021

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

The aim of this review is to discuss recent arguments and findings in the comparative study of empathy. Based on a multidisciplinary approach including psychology and ethology, we review the non-human animal literature concerning theoretical frameworks, methodology, and research outcomes. One specific objective is to highlight discrepancies between theory and empirical findings, and to discuss ambiguities present in current data and their interpretation. In particular, we focus on emotional contagion and its experimental investigation, and on consolation and targeted helping as measures for sympathy. Additionally, we address the feasibility of comparing across species with behavioural data alone. One main conclusion of our review is that animal research on empathy still faces the challenge of closing the gap between theoretical concepts and empirical evidence. To advance our knowledge, we propose to focus more on the emotional basis of empathy, rather than on possibly ambiguous behavioural indicators, and we provide suggestions to overcome the limitations of previous research

【 授权许可】

Free