Attachment and inter-individual differences in empathy, compassion, and theory of mind abilities

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Mathilde Gallistl - , Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (Author)
  • Melanie Kungl - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Sandra Gabler - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Philipp Kanske - , Chair of Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Pascal Vrticka - , Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Essex (Author)
  • Veronika Engert - , Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, C-I-R-C Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) (Author)

Abstract

Social processing, namely the ability to understand others’ cognitive and affective states, is crucial for successful social interaction. It encompasses socio-affective abilities such as empathy and compassion, as well as socio-cognitive abilities such as theory of mind (ToM). This study examined the link between social processing and attachment. Our study goes beyond previous research in that social processing abilities were assessed in a single, state-of-the-art behavioral paradigm using video narratives, the EmpaToM. Attachment was captured with the Adult Attachment Interview (N = 85; 50.60% women, Mage = 25.87 ± 4.50 years) measuring participants’ present-day capacity to think about and communicate attachment-relevant information about the past. Additionally, a self-report attachment questionnaire was employed (N = 158). We found that AAI-based attachment security (vs. insecurity) was associated with higher behavioral ToM abilities. Furthermore, self-reported attachment avoidance was negatively correlated with behavioral compassion abilities. Our findings provide further evidence that interview-based and self-reported attachment measures do not converge, but may rather be understood as capturing different facets of attachment that relate to different components of social processing. We conclude that individuals with secure, non-avoidant attachment show social abilities that allow them to better understand others’ thoughts and generate positive, caring emotions in face of others’ distress.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)350-365
Number of pages16
Journal Attachment & human development
Volume26
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 39007850

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • adult attachment interview, Attachment, compassion, empathy, theory of mind