Exploring the boundaries of empathy. Lessons from a crowded train

Empathy drives prosocial behaviour… in the lab, anyway, with no other people involved. In real-life scenarios, however, when we are exposed to the behaviour of others, empathy alone is often not enough.

Maria Lojowska • March 28, 2024

Does reading fiction make you a better person?

Could reading a good book make you a better person? In a time in which our bestsellers include horrific deaths (e.g. Game of Thrones) and erotic sadomasochism (e.g. Fifty Shades of Grey), this idea may seem far-fetched.

Suzanne van de Groep • March 15, 2016

Buying happiness or stress? The role of empathy in Christmas shopping

A few weeks before Christmas most people seem to be stressed out about what to buy their loved ones. But why do we make such an effort in buying all these gifts?

Sandy Overgaauw • December 09, 2015

Empathy in adolescence: convenient or key?

Not everybody is equally competent at reading intentions, sharing emotions, and in estimating the needs of others. Sandy Overgaauw investigated the role of individual differences in empathy. How and why do we differ from a brain and behavioral perspective?

Sandy Overgaauw • February 16, 2015

Need help? Keep your compliments to yourself!

The idea is simple: the more compliments you give, the more you receive in return. My research shows that it might not be that simple. We showed that people who give compliments receive more liking, but less help.

Fieke Harinck • November 17, 2014

Why asking Russians to be empathetic leads to increased anti-gay prejudice

In response to Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law, politicians have urged the Russian authorities to show empathy and take the perspective of same-sex couples. I argue that this can be counterproductive: Perspective taking can foster anti-gay prejudice.

Marlon Mooijman • March 04, 2014

Compassion and when to feel it

People can feel compassion when they see somebody in physical or psychological pain. Not every observed suffering, however, leads to feelings of compassion. What exactly is compassion, and can we predict under which circumstances we experience it?

Fieke Harinck • November 04, 2013

Why we eat cows (and sometimes horses), but not dogs

Most people in Western culture have no problem with eating cows, pigs and chickens. However, the idea of eating dogs tends to disgust us. Why do we make such mental distinctions between ‘animals for eating’ and ‘animals not for eating’?

Sabine Peters • March 14, 2013

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