Empathy and Childhood Maltreatment: A Mixed-Methods Investigation

Simon C. Locher; Lisa Barenblatt; Melike M. Fourie; Dan Joseph Stein; Pumla Gobodo‐Madikizela

doi:10.1177/104012371402600204

Abstract

1 min read

Our results support the notion that childhood maltreatment is associated with impaired empathy, and suggest that such impairment may differ depending on the level of maltreatment: moderate maltreatment was associated with emotional blunting and impaired cognitive empathy, whereas severe maltreatment was associated with emotional over-arousal and diminished cognitive insight.

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