Empathy, justice, and moral behavior

AJOB Neuroscience
Jean Decety, Jason M Cowell

Abstract

Empathy shapes the landscape of our social lives. It motivates prosocial and caregiving behaviors, plays a role in inhibiting aggression, and facilitates cooperation between members of a similar social group. Thus, empathy is often conceived as a driving motivation of moral behavior and justice, and as such, everyone would think that it should be cultivated. However, the relationships between empathy, morality, and justice are complex. We begin by explaining what the notion of empathy encompasses and then argue how sensitivity to others' needs has evolved in the context of parental care and group living. Next, we examine the multiple physiological, hormonal, and neural systems supporting empathy and its functions. One troubling but important corollary of this neuro-evolutionary model is that empathy produces social preferences that can conflict with fairness and justice. An understanding of the factors that mold our emotional response and caring motivation for others helps provide organizational principles and ultimately guides decision-making in medical ethics.

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Citations

Dec 9, 2015·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Jean DecetyAriel Knafo-Noam
Oct 16, 2015·PloS One·Qianguo XiaoWen-Bo Luo
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Dec 6, 2017·The Journal of Social Psychology·Liz Redford, Kate A Ratliff
Feb 19, 2020·Substance Use & Misuse·Drew E WintersSadaaki Fukui
Sep 27, 2019·Cognition & Emotion·Keith J Yoder, Jean Decety
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Sep 13, 2017·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Aleksandra Sherman, Clair Morrissey
Feb 16, 2019·Psychology, Crime & Law : PC & L·Keith J Yoder, Jean Decety
Oct 18, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Pascal Molenberghs, Winnifred R Louis
Nov 28, 2020·Journal of Neuropsychology·Erik OudmanAlbert Postma
Feb 24, 2020·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Melike M FourieJean Decety
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Dec 11, 2021·Cognition & Emotion·Belén López-PérezMichaela Gummerum

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
SMA
LEASH

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