Back to Search
Start Over
The influence of affective empathy and autism spectrum traits on empathic accuracy
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 9, Iss 6, p e98436 (2014), PLoS ONE, 9(6):e98436. PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
- Publication Year :
- 2014
- Publisher :
- PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2014.
-
Abstract
- Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by interpersonal deficits and has been associated with limited cognitive empathy, which includes perspective taking, theory of mind, and empathic accuracy (EA). The capacity for affective empathy may also be impaired. In the present study we aimed to determine if EA in normally developing individuals with varying levels of autism spectrum traits is moderated by trait affective empathy. Fifty male and fifty female participants ('perceivers') completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient and the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale to assess autism spectrum traits and trait affective empathy, respectively. EA was assessed using a Dutch-language version of a previously developed task and involved rating the feelings of others ('targets') verbally recounting autobiographical emotional events. Targets varied in trait emotional expressivity, assessed using the Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire. Perceivers with more autism spectrum traits performed worse on the EA task, particularly when their trait affective empathy was relatively low. Interpersonal deficits in autism spectrum disorder may be partially explained by low cognitive empathy. Further, they might be aggravated by a limited capacity for affective empathy.
- Subjects :
- Male
DISORDER
Emotions
lcsh:Medicine
Social Sciences
CHILDREN
Developmental psychology
QUOTIENT AQ
0302 clinical medicine
Alexithymia
Theory of mind
Medicine and Health Sciences
Psychology
lcsh:Science
media_common
ASPERGER-SYNDROME
Multidisciplinary
05 social sciences
OXYTOCIN
Clinical Psychology
Autism spectrum disorder
Perspective-taking
Female
Research Article
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Psychometrics
Social Psychology
Adolescent
media_common.quotation_subject
Empathy
behavioral disciplines and activities
050105 experimental psychology
HIGH-FUNCTIONING ADULTS
03 medical and health sciences
Empathic accuracy
Mental Health and Psychiatry
medicine
Humans
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
FACETS
Psychiatry
EMOTIONAL FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
lcsh:R
Cognitive Psychology
Biology and Life Sciences
medicine.disease
ALEXITHYMIA
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive
Asperger syndrome
Cognitive Science
Autism
COGNITION
lcsh:Q
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Neuroscience
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLOS-One
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d243600f1bf9ac2b9bcb11caab658a57