Seeking to prevent antisocial behavior, the study of the biological basis of empathy has gained certain relevance in recent years. Some studies have pointed out the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and cortisol in empathy, but few have studied the relationship between the first and Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR), as an indicator of HPA's basal activity. This research aims to study the relationship between empathy (cognitive and emotional) and CAR in 39 men and 91 women (47 in the follicular phase and 44 in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle). CAR was obtained from saliva samples collected upon awakening and 30, 45 and 60 minutes later; empathy was assessed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. The results show that women exhibit greater cognitive empathy, when the increase in CAR during the follicular phase is greater. Men, on the other hand, experiment fewer sympathy or emotional contagion when the increase in CAR is greater. Therefore, the differences found between empathy and sympathy regarding gender and menstrual cycle phases in women could be explained by different psychobiological patterns.
Milio-Nácher, N., Sariñana-González, P., Ruiz-Robledillo, N., Vitoria-Estruch, S., Bellosta-Batalla, M., Kovacheva, K., Romero-Martínez, Ángel, & Moya-Albiol, L. (2016). Relationship between Empathy and Cortisol Awakening Response. Revista De Psicología, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-0581.2016.41729
Twitter