Research in the scientific literature increasingly demonstrates that empathy consists of multiple dimensions, and that defining empathy as a single encompassing term may be imprecise. Recent calls have been made for increasing empathy as means to increase pro-social behavior. However, contradictory evidence exists that empathy may reduce pro-social behavior. This debate has sparked confusion around what is empathy, along with the value of empathy in promoting pro-social behavior. This paper will examine recent advances in affective neuroscience to better understand the construct of empathy and its relationship to pro-social behavior. Individuals’ responses to affective empathy, seeing the suffering of others can result in personal distress or empathic concern, which may then subsequently affect motivation for pro-social behavior. Current research in affective neuroscience suggests that combining compassion interventions in conjunction with both affective and cognitive empathy offers the most optimal likelihood that individuals will engage in pro-social behavior.

科学文献中的研究越来越多地表明，同理心由多个维度组成，将同理心定义为一个包含性的术语可能不准确。最近有人呼吁增加同理心，以此作为增加亲社会行为的手段。然而，存在矛盾的证据表明，同理心可能会减少亲社会行为。这场辩论引发了对什么是同理心的混淆，以及同理心在促进亲社会行为方面的价值。本文将研究情感神经科学的最新进展，以更好地理解共情的构成及其与亲社会行为的关系。个人对情感移情的反应，看到他人的痛苦会导致个人痛苦或移情关注，然后可能会影响亲社会行为的动机。