Witnessing peer rejection during early adolescence: Neural correlates of empathy for experiences of social exclusion
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Neuroimaging studies with adults have begun to reveal the neural bases of empathy; however, this research has focused on empathy for physical pain, rather than empathy for negative social experiences. Moreover, this work has not examined adolescents who may frequently witness and empathize with others that experience negative social experiences such as peer rejection. Here, we examined neural activity among early adolescents observing social exclusion compared to observing inclusion, and how this activity related to both trait empathy and subsequent prosocial behavior. Participants were scanned while they observed an individual whom they believed was being socially excluded. At least one day prior to the scan they reported their trait empathy, and following the scan they wrote emails to the excluded victim that were rated for prosocial behavior (e.g., helping, comforting). Observing exclusion compared to inclusion activated regions involved in mentalizing (i.e., dorsomedial prefrontal cortex), particularly among highly empathic individuals. Additionally, individuals who displayed more activity in affective, pain-related regions during observed exclusion compared to inclusion subsequently wrote more prosocial emails to excluded victims. Overall findings suggest that when early adolescents witness social exclusion in their daily lives, some may actually 'feel the pain' of the victims and act more prosocially toward them as a result.
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In 12- to 13-year-olds, activity in the mentalizing network was related to observed exclusion compared to observed inclusion.
“Activity in the mentalizing network was related to observed exclusion compared to observed inclusion.”
From Is Adolescence a Sensitive Period for Sociocultural Processing? (2014) · cites this paper as Masten et al. 2010
In the same study, recruitment of dmPFC and ATC appeared related to self-reported trait empathy, but only anterior insula showed a positive correlation with prosocial behavior.
“Although recruitment of the dmPFC and ATC appeared to be related to self-reported trait empathy, only the anterior insula showed a positive correlation with prosocial behavior.”
From Is Adolescence a Sensitive Period for Sociocultural Processing? (2014) · cites this paper as Masten et al. 2010
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- Authors
- Masten, C. L., Eisenberger, N. I., Pfeifer, J. H., & Dapretto, M.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- University of Oregon (US)
- Corresponding author
- Masten, Carrie L.
- Venue
- Social Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2010-10-14
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 5-6
- Pages
- 496-507
- ISSN
- 1747-0919 (ISSN-L)
- 1747-0927
- PMC
- PMC2957502
- OpenAlex
- W2168539802
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 10.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Social Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Center for Research Resources (P41RR013642, RR 13642, RR00865, M01RR000865, C06RR012169)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- empathy, social exclusion, peer rejection, early adolescence, neural correlates of empathy, mentalization, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, prosocial behavior, trait empathy
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Age Factors, Brain, Child, Empathy, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Peer Group, Rejection, Psychology, Social Behavior
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