Psychological Development and Education ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (3): 439-446.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2021.03.15

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The Associations and Pathways between Empathy and Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Problems

CHEN Hui1, HE Ting1, TANG Yuanqiong2, TANG Yixin1, LU Fengyong3, LIN Xiuyun1   

  1. 1. Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875;
    2. Sichuan Luxian NO.2 High School, Luzhou 646106;
    3. Xinglong Middle School, Linyi County, Dezhou 251505
  • Published:2021-05-18

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Abstract: Internalizing and externalizing problems were identified as the most common prevalence psychological and behavior problems among adolescents. Although empathy has close relationship with adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems, the different relationships among the components of empathy (i.e., cognitive empathy, affective empathy) and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems remain less studied in previous studies, also the pathway between empathy and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. The present study firstly reviewed the associations between cognitive empathy, affective empathy and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Furthermore, we introduced the generation model of empathy (Self to Other Model of Empathy, SOME), the development model of empathy (Risky Empathy Development Model, REDM) and related neurophysiological factors to promote the elaboration of the pathway between empathy and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. In future, the definition and components of empathy should be clarified and distinguished. More efforts should be devoted to the development of measures and the exploration of the relationship between behavioral empathy and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. In order to construct systematic theoretical models on the relationship between empathy and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems, individual characteristics, special groups and cultural backgrounds should be involved in the future studies.

Key words: empathy, internalizing and externalizing problems, adolescent, self to other model, risky empathy development model

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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