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1 results

  • Chapter 24 - Empathy and Compassion

  • from Section VI - Social Emotions
  • Edited by Jorge Armony, McGill University, Montréal, Patrik Vuilleumier, University of Geneva
  • Book:
    The Cambridge Handbook of Human Affective Neuroscience
    Published online:
    16 September 2025
    Print publication:
    02 October 2025, pp 485-502

  • Summary

    In this chapter, we focus on the neuronal networks underlying the socio-affective capacities empathy and compassion. We first provide definitions of empathy and compassion and give an overview of the historical development in social neuroscience related to empathy and compassion research, with a focus on differentiating between empathy, empathic distress, compassion, and related concepts of social understanding like Theory of Mind. We then examine the neuronal networks underlying these distinct social capacities and discuss the latest discoveries in this field. Next, we turn to the plasticity of the social brain and compare training approaches in their efficacy in improving socio-affective and socio-cognitive capacities. This is followed by the exploration of how psychopathological symptoms are differentially related to empathy, compassion, and socio-cognitive skills. Lastly, we conclude the main findings of this chapter and provide questions for future neuroscientific and psychological research on empathy and compassion.