安全依恋对共情和利他行为的影响

利他行为(Altruistic behavior)指以增加其他个体的福利为最终目标的行为, 它既是社会心理学领域的重要研究主题也是社会和谐稳定的需要。共情(Empathy)指个体感知或想象他人的情感, 并部分体验到他人感受的心理过程, 是利他行为的内在动机。已有研究证明, 安全依恋风格和安全依恋启动对个体共情和利他行为有积极影响。根据依恋理论和相关文献可以推测, 情绪调节和认知图式可能是安全依恋影响个体共情和利他行为的两种心理机制。未来可以探讨利他行为实施者与接受者的关系远近及双方依恋风格匹配程度的调节作用, 进一步验证安全依恋影响共情和利他行为的心理机制, 探讨利他行为对安全依恋的反向促进作用以及开发通过安全依恋培养个体共情能力和利他行为的干预方案。

Effects of secure attachment on empathy and altruistic behavior

Altruistic behavior refers to a form of prosocial behavior, of which one’s ultimate goal is to increase other’s welfare. It is not only an important research topic in the field of social psychology but also a necessary element for promoting social harmony and stability. Meanwhile, empathy is the intrinsic motivation for altruistic behavior. Empathy occurs when an observer perceives or imagines someone else’s affect, which triggers the observer to partially feel their emotions. Previous studies indicated that secure attachment style and security priming positively impact individual’s empathy skills and altruistic behavior. According to the attachment theory, emotion regulation and cognitive schema might be the underlying mechanisms to explain how secure attachment influences individual’s empathy and altruistic behavior. Future research is suggested to examine such pathways by further exploring moderators of the relationship between the proximity of givers and receivers in altruistic behavior and the similarity of their attachment styles. Future research is also suggested to investigate the effect of altruistic behavior on secure attachment. It will help to inform intervention development that targets at improving empathy skills and altruistic behavior through secure attachment.