The Positive (and Negative) Psychology of Empathy
In: The Neurobiology and Psychology of Empathy, Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Sara Konrath - University of Michigan
Delphine Grynberg - University of Rochester Medical Center
To our knowledge, this is one of the most comprehensive reviews to date on the potential liabilities associated with empathy (and we also refer readers to the excellent reviews of Batson, 2011; Batson, et al., 2004).
Relates to negatives
INTERPERSONAL
Prosocial behavior
Evidence that empathizing with undesirable targets makes people act in accordance with them, which at times can reduce prosocial behavior.
Close relationships
In high-threat contexts, empathy is associated with less relationship satisfaction. Experimental evidence needed.*
Professional contexts
Need more research on potential negative consequences of teacher, doctor, and therapist empathy for student and patient outcomes
Aggression
The possibility that empathy might be associated with increases in other types of aggression, such as aggression in response to threats to loved ones, has not adequately been explored in the literature
Prejudice
People are naturally more likely to empathize with in-group members and close others. Empathy inductions increase evaluative concerns during actual intergroup social interactions, thereby reducing self-disclosure and increasing the awkwardness of the interactions.
Moral reasoning
It is possible to empathize and identify with immoral others, which may impact moral reasoning. High empathy people make less utilitarian moral judgments (e.g. are more likely to save a single individual at the expense of a group of individuals). Empathy inductions for intimates and other conspecifics also lead to unfair preferential treatment of specific individuals at the expense of others
INTRAPERSONAL
Psychological disorders
Excessive empathic concern and unregulated emotional contagion is a feature of some psychological disorders (e.g. Williams Syndrome).
etc