RESEARCH INTERESTS
INTERGROUP DEHUMANIZATION: THE SOCIAL, NEURAL, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ROOTS OF MIND ATTRIBUTION IN INFANTS AND ADULTS
Dehumanization is the phenomenon through which we perceive others as less than human, denying them mental capacities and
human characteristics. This causes dehumanised individuals to be subjected to prejudice and discrimination, as well as becoming
more likely victims of violence and reduced prosocial attitudes. It remains unclear, however, how we end up perceiving other
humans as less human than they actually are. Humanization is a minimal condition to empathize.
This research question will be explored in collaboration with University of Milano-Bicocca in a 2-years project funded by the MIUR, PRIN 2022. We will investigate the origins, development and consolidation of dehumanization processes in infants and adults, using a multidisciplinary approach entailing neural, physiological and implicit measures.
DOES THE PERCEPTION OF THE BODILY SELF INFLUENCE OUR PERCEPTION OF THE OTHER?
Empathy is the perception of the other in the self, it is a core aspect of psychological therapy and of social neuroscientific studies. However, both clinical practice and social neurosciences have only exceptionally examined how we distinguish between the perception of the self and of the empathic experience. I am currently testing how the perception of the bodily self relates to empathy.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF PAST MEMORIES WHEN WE EMPATHIZE?
Sharing others’ emotions is something that we all experience every day. When a friend is happy or sad but also when encountering strangers who share an experience they just lived; this is what happens to clinicians or social workers, for instance. The ability of sharing others’ emotions is called empathy and it constitutes a powerful social glue that constantly nourishes social interactions and reduces distances between individuals. But how do we do it, exactly? Intuitively, sharing similar experiences would enrich our ability to share the emotion associated to those experiences, but do we always relive our own experiences when sharing others’ emotions? Is it something that happens automatically? Sometimes, remembering our own experiences can certainly help us in representing others’ inner states in order to respond appropriately to others’ needs but sharing similar experiences can even be detrimental to this aim if those did not elicit the same kind of emotion. In this case, to which extent can we really put aside our memories to understand others’ emotive states?
In a European society characterized by migration enhancement, diversity and discrimination are in the spotlight. Addressing issues related to the ability of reducing borders between individuals, i.e. empathy, has the final aim of promoting solidarity and cooperation through meaningful human interactions. Autobiographical memories collected through social interactions play the critical role to progressively shape new interacting behaviour. Since both memory and empathy contribute to improve social interactions, investigating the relation between autobiographical memories and empathy can impact boundaries between individuals.
INTERGROUP DEHUMANIZATION: THE SOCIAL, NEURAL, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ROOTS OF MIND ATTRIBUTION IN INFANTS AND ADULTS
Dehumanization is the phenomenon through which we perceive others as less than human, denying them mental capacities and
human characteristics. This causes dehumanised individuals to be subjected to prejudice and discrimination, as well as becoming
more likely victims of violence and reduced prosocial attitudes. It remains unclear, however, how we end up perceiving other
humans as less human than they actually are. Humanization is a minimal condition to empathize.
This research question will be explored in collaboration with University of Milano-Bicocca in a 2-years project funded by the MIUR, PRIN 2022. We will investigate the origins, development and consolidation of dehumanization processes in infants and adults, using a multidisciplinary approach entailing neural, physiological and implicit measures.
DOES THE PERCEPTION OF THE BODILY SELF INFLUENCE OUR PERCEPTION OF THE OTHER?
Empathy is the perception of the other in the self, it is a core aspect of psychological therapy and of social neuroscientific studies. However, both clinical practice and social neurosciences have only exceptionally examined how we distinguish between the perception of the self and of the empathic experience. I am currently testing how the perception of the bodily self relates to empathy.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF PAST MEMORIES WHEN WE EMPATHIZE?
Sharing others’ emotions is something that we all experience every day. When a friend is happy or sad but also when encountering strangers who share an experience they just lived; this is what happens to clinicians or social workers, for instance. The ability of sharing others’ emotions is called empathy and it constitutes a powerful social glue that constantly nourishes social interactions and reduces distances between individuals. But how do we do it, exactly? Intuitively, sharing similar experiences would enrich our ability to share the emotion associated to those experiences, but do we always relive our own experiences when sharing others’ emotions? Is it something that happens automatically? Sometimes, remembering our own experiences can certainly help us in representing others’ inner states in order to respond appropriately to others’ needs but sharing similar experiences can even be detrimental to this aim if those did not elicit the same kind of emotion. In this case, to which extent can we really put aside our memories to understand others’ emotive states?
In a European society characterized by migration enhancement, diversity and discrimination are in the spotlight. Addressing issues related to the ability of reducing borders between individuals, i.e. empathy, has the final aim of promoting solidarity and cooperation through meaningful human interactions. Autobiographical memories collected through social interactions play the critical role to progressively shape new interacting behaviour. Since both memory and empathy contribute to improve social interactions, investigating the relation between autobiographical memories and empathy can impact boundaries between individuals.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
We are looking for 30 healthy volunteers (45 – 75 yo) to partake in a research project investigating emotion processes in a group of patients with amnesia.
The study is conducted entirely online and will take up to 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete in separate sessions.
You will be reimbursed for your time.
Inclusion criteria:
Please get in touch if you have excellent English proficiency, your age is between 45 and 75 and if you have 10-14 years of education (i.e., GCSE, A level or college but not a master degree or higher).
Exclusion criteria:
Individuals who use psychotropic medication or who suffer from a neurological or psychiatric disorder
The study has gained approval from the Ethical Committee of the University of Birmingham.
If you would like to partake in this research, please get in touch with me by sending me an email.
We are looking for 30 healthy volunteers (45 – 75 yo) to partake in a research project investigating emotion processes in a group of patients with amnesia.
The study is conducted entirely online and will take up to 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete in separate sessions.
You will be reimbursed for your time.
Inclusion criteria:
Please get in touch if you have excellent English proficiency, your age is between 45 and 75 and if you have 10-14 years of education (i.e., GCSE, A level or college but not a master degree or higher).
Exclusion criteria:
Individuals who use psychotropic medication or who suffer from a neurological or psychiatric disorder
The study has gained approval from the Ethical Committee of the University of Birmingham.
If you would like to partake in this research, please get in touch with me by sending me an email.
