Development of an empathy improvement program for elementary and junior high school students

2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21530676
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Educational psychology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: SAKURAI Shigeo 筑波大学, 人間系, 教授 (50183819)
• Research Collaborator: HAYAMA Daichi 茨城大学, 大学院・教育学研究科, 大学院生 ; SUZUKI Takashi 高知工科大学, 共通教育教室, 講師 ; KURAZUMI Tomoe 筑波大学, 大学院・人間総合科学研究科, 大学院生 ; NISHIMURA Takuma 筑波大学, 大学院・人間総合科学研究科, 大学院生 ; MURAKAMI Tatsuya 筑波大学, 大学院・人間総合科学研究科, 大学院生
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2012
• Keywords: 共感性 / 向社会的行動 / 学校適応 / 攻撃行動 / 教育心理学

Research Abstract

In this study, we tried to develop an empathy scale consisting of cognitive and affective components for accumulating basic finding in the study of empathy. Moreover, we attempted to create an intervention program to enhance cognitive and affective empathy . In the theoretical step, we succeeded in developing a scale that can evaluate cognitive component of empathy and the empathy for others’ negative and positive affection. Furthermore, we revealed that empathy for others’ positive affection can reduce aggressive behavior and promote prosocial behavior and school satisfaction. In the interventional step, we developed a program for increasing empathy in students. The results of the program showed that empathy towards positive affection was the most effective component for suppressing aggressive behavior.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] 小中学生における共感的感情反応と学校生活満足度との関連 (2011)
  • Author(s): 倉住友恵・村上達也・西村多久磨・鈴木高志・櫻井茂男
  • Journal Title: 筑波大学心理学研究 Volume: 42 Pages: 59-68
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] 中学生用共感的感情反応尺度の予備的検討 (2011)
  • Author(s): 村上達也・西村多久磨・倉住友恵・鈴木 高志・葉山大地・櫻井茂男
  • Journal Title: 筑波大学心理学研究 Volume: 41 Pages: 51-59
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 共感性の理論とその介入研究(自主企画シンポジウム) (2012)
  • Author(s): 櫻井茂男・村上達也・安藤有美・西村多久磨・大山智子・渡辺弥生
  • Organizer: 日本教育心理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 沖縄
  • Year and Date: 2012-11-23
• [Presentation] Influence of cognitive and affective empathy on aggressive behaviors in Japanese elementary and junior high school students. (2011)
  • Author(s): Murakami, T., Nishimura, T., Sakurai, S., &Sakurai, T.
  • Organizer: TERA International Conference on Education, 26
  • Place of Presentation: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • Year and Date: 2011-12-17
• [Presentation] 新しい共感性研究:ポジティブな共感的感情反応に着目して(自主企画シンポジウム) (2010)
  • Author(s): 櫻井茂男 ・葉山大地・鈴木高志・倉住友恵・澤田匡人・首藤敏元
  • Organizer: 日本教育心理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 2010-08-28
• [Presentation] Influence of empathic-affective reactions on interpersonal behaviors of Japanese junior high school students. (2010)
  • Author(s): Suzuki, T., Sakurai, S., Hayama, D., Kurazumi, T., Nishimura, T., Murakami, T., & Sakaguchi, N.
  • Organizer: Twenty-seventh International Congress of Applied Psychology
  • Place of Presentation: Melbourne, Australia
  • Year and Date: 2010-07-12