Does Personality Organization Affect Empathic Perspective-taking?

Author

Morgun Elliot Custer, University of Tennessee

Date of Award

8-2019

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

Timothy Hulsey

Committee Members

Leticia Flores, Heather Hirschfeld, Garriy Shteynberg

Abstract

Empathic perspective taking is the psychological process that enables us to identify and understand other people’s emotions. A recent study published in Science (Kidd & Castano, 2013) suggests that reading literary fiction can improve empathic perspective taking abilities. In the present investigation, I present a history of scientific efforts to explain and measure empathy as well as how empathic perspective-taking is diminished in individuals with personality disorders. I review efforts at an extension of existing research that resulted in a failed replication with important repercussions. I outline potential directions for researchers looking to investigate the relationship of empathic perspective taking, literary fiction, and personality organization.

Recommended Citation

Custer, Morgun Elliot, "Does Personality Organization Affect Empathic Perspective-taking?. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2019.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/6772