Since lack of empathy is an important indicator of violent behaviors, researchers need consistent and valid measures. This study evaluated the practical significance of a potential physiological correlate of empathy compared to a traditional self-report questionnaire in 18 male violent offenders and 21 general population controls. Empathy skills were assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) questionnaire. Heart-Rate Variability (HRV) was assessed with an electrocardiogram. The RMSSD (Root Mean Square of the Successive beat-to-beat Differences), an HRV index implicated in social cognition, was calculated. There were no group differences in IRI scores. However, RMSSD was lower in the offender group. Positive correlations between RMSSD and IRI subscales were found for controls only. We conclude that psychometric measures of empathy do not discriminate incarcerated violent offenders, and that the incorporation of psychophysiological measures, such as HRV, could be an avenue for forensic research on empathy to establish translatable evidence-based information.

由于缺乏同理心是暴力行为的重要指标，因此研究人员需要一致且有效的措施。本研究在 18 名男性暴力犯罪者和 21 名一般人群中评估了与传统的自我报告问卷相比，共情的潜在生理相关性的实际意义。用人际反应指数评估同理心技能(IRI) 问卷。心率变异性 (HRV) 通过心电图进行评估。计算了 RMSSD（连续心跳间差异的均方根），这是一种与社会认知有关的 HRV 指数。IRI 评分没有组间差异。然而，RMSSD 在罪犯组中较低。仅在对照中发现 RMSSD 和 IRI 分量表之间存在正相关。我们得出的结论是，同理心的心理测量方法不会歧视被监禁的暴力罪犯，并且心理生理学措施（例如 HRV）的结合可能是对同理心进行法医研究以建立可翻译的循证信息的途径。