1. The crystal globe: Emotional empathy and the transformation of self
- Author
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Burris, Christopher T. and Rempel, John K.
- Subjects
- *
EMOTIONS , *EMPATHY , *SELF-perception , *SELF-evaluation , *MYSTICISM , *SPACETIME - Abstract
Abstract: To test whether emotional empathy is linked to altered perceptions of self in relation to other and/or context, participants read one of two tragic news stories and then completed a self-report empathy measure, as well as an abridged version of Mysticism scale either before or after the article. Exposure to a needy other in the story tended to result in greater self-reported mystical experience. Men with a history of mystical experience reported more empathy, but the latter was disconnected from on-line reports of mystical experience. Women’s history of mystical experience did not predict empathic responding overall, but their reported empathy was linked to on-line experiences of oneness, absorption into something larger, and space-time distortion with imputed religious significance. Directions for future research, including the possible facilitative role of oxytocin, are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2012
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