The bad things we do because of empathy. (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Breithaupt, Fritz
• Is Part Of: Interdisciplinary science reviews. Volume 43:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 174
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Empathy -- dark sides of empathy -- sadistic empathy -- helicopter parenting -- side taking -- altruism -- humanitarian empathy -- perspective taking; Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1080/03080188.2018.1450928
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-0188

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Empathy is usually seen as a prosocial and morally positive influence on behaviour. This article provides an overview of cases of negative acts motivated by empathy. It includes discussions of polarizations that are fueled by side-taking and empathy, selfish forms of empathy (such as sadistic empathy, vampirism, and helicopter parenting), and filtered empathy (using identification with a third person as a medium to have empathy with another). The definition of empathy used is to co-experience the situation of another.