Il grado zero dell’empatia Capacità empatiche e correlati neurali nella psicopatia

Abstract

Empathy is a multidimensional construct that develops on two levels: an affective level and a cognitive level. Recent studies have shown that empathic abilities are compromised in some specific cases. Psychopathy, in particular, is characterized by a total absence of affective empathy. Subjects with a diagnosis of psychopathy would seem, however, to possess the skills related to cognitive empathy. The main areas involved in empathic processes are the anterior cingulate cortex and the anterior insula. This work, starting from a careful analysis of the previous scientific literature, has made it possible to raise awareness of the impossibility, with psychopathic subjects, to develop therapeutic plans based on contact and management of emotions. Therefore, the possibility of creating a therapeutic plan aimed at strengthening empathic abilities in psychopathic subjects has been hypothesized. In conclusion, we highlight the possibility of using meditative techniques and mindfulness to increase the self-awareness of these subjects. Starting from these assumptions we hypothesize the need to investigate the effectiveness of these techniques in the treatment of subjects diagnosed with psychopathy, starting from the scientific results reported by studies in the neurobiological field.

Keywords

• empathy
• empathic processes
• psychopathy
• mindfulness