The neurobiology of collective action

Zak, Paul J.; Barraza, Jorge A.

doi:10.3389/fnins.2013.00211

Cited by 33 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 107 publications

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“…The empathic concern (EC) scale assesses the degree of other-oriented emotional empathy, especially a tendency towards compassionate care and feelings of warmth for other individuals experiencing negative situations. High EC scores have been shown to be strongly associated with prosocial behaviour [ 18 ] and with helping others even at the expense of own disadvantages [ 19 ]. In contrast, personal distress (PD) refers to a more self-oriented reaction to others in distress, including anxiety, helplessness and a tendency to avoid the discomforting situation [ 1 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of a Common Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism with Self-Reported ‘Empathic Concern’ in a Large Population of Healthy Volunteers

et al. 2016

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BackgroundPrevious research has linked genomic variations of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene with individual differences in empathy. The impact of these variations on specific cognitive and emotional aspects of empathy, however, remains to be clarified.MethodsWe analysed associations of a common OXTR polymorphism (rs53576) with trait empathy in a sample of 421 blood donors (231 M, 190 F; age 18–74) using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) as an established multidimensional self-report measure of empathy.ResultsFemale sex was significantly associated with higher empathy scores in all IRI scales (p<0.001) with the exception of the cognitive perspective taking scale (p = 0.09). The overall trait empathy score was significantly associated with rs53576 (p = 0.01), with mean scores increasing from AA to GG genotypes. An analysis of the IRI subscores revealed that the polymorphism was especially associated with the emotional empathic concern scale (p = 0.02). Separate analysis of the male and female subgroup revealed a significant association of the polymorphism with female (p = 0.04), but not with male (p = 0.20) empathic concern. A comparison of effect sizes between the groups showed greater effects for women compared to men although effect size differences did not become significant in our sample.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a significant association of the rs53576 OXTR gene polymorphism with trait empathy and especially with emotional aspects of empathy. This association is possibly weaker or absent in men compared to women.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of a Common Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism with Self-Reported ‘Empathic Concern’ in a Large Population of Healthy Volunteers

et al. 2016

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“…On a biological level, the consolidation of new identity to action links are underpinned by the neuroscience of intergroup relations (Molenberghs & Louis, 2018) and collective action (Zak & Barraza, 2013). For the purposes of this article, such work is still in its infancy: It does not explore the multivariate complexity of choices among collective actors' tactics for example.…”

Section: Efforts Can Rekindlementioning

confidence: 99%

The Volatility of Collective Action: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Data

Louis

Thomas

McGarty

et al. 2020

Political Psychology

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Collective action is volatile: characterized by swift, unexpected changes in intensity, target, and forms. We conduct a detailed exploration of four reasons that these changes occur. First, action is about identities which are fluid, contested, and multifaceted. As the content of groups’ identities change, so do the specific norms for the identities. Second, social movements adopt new tactics, or forms of collective action. Tactical changes may arise from changes in identity, but also changes in the target or opponent groups, and changes in the relationships with targets and with other actors. Factions or wings of a group in conflict may in turn form identities based on opposition or support for differing tactics. Third, social movements change because participant motivation ebbs, surges, and also changes in quality (e.g., becoming more subjectively autonomous, or self‐determined). Finally, political social change occurs within socio‐political structures; these structures implicate higher‐level norms, which both constrain and emerge from actions (e.g., state openness or repression). Our analysis presents idealized and descriptive models of these relationships, and a new model to examine tactical changes empirically, the DIME model. This model highlights that collective actors can Disidentify after failure (giving up and walking away); they can Innovate, or try something new; and they can commit harder, convinced that they are right, with increased moral urgency (Moralization) and redoubled efforts (Energization).

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“…The empathic concern (EC) scale measures the degree of self-reported compassion and care for other people in negative situations. This other-oriented aspect of empathy has also been shown to be associated with altruistic actions in favour of others in need [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex-specific association of a common GNAS polymorphism with self-reported cognitive empathy in healthy volunteers

2018

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BackgroundIn a recent study, we found associations of a common oxytocin receptor (OXTR) polymorphism with inter-individual differences in empathy, especially with emotional empathy in women. Many other studies found specific associations of oxytocin, arginine-vasopressin, serotonin and dopamine receptor gene polymorphisms with various aspects of trait empathy. As all these receptors belong to the guanine-binding protein (G protein) coupled receptor family, it is a reasonable assumption, that alterations in genes encoding G protein subunits also influence the signal transduction in empathy related circuits. However, to the best of our knowledge, these genomic variations have not yet been studied in genetic research on empathy.MethodsHere, we analysed associations of a common polymorphism of the GNAS gene (C393T) in a previously characterized sample of 421 healthy blood donors (231 M, 190 F; age 18–74). The GNAS gene encodes the G protein adenylyl cyclase stimulator (Gαs) G protein subunit, which activates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent pathways by stimulating the adenylyl cyclase. Cognitive and emotional aspects of dispositional empathy were tested using Davis’ Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI).ResultsIn the complete sample, associations of C393T genotype with IRI empathy scores, including cognitive empathy (p = 0.055) and perspective taking (p = 0.057) scores did not reach a level of significance. None of the IRI scores was near to being significantly associated with C393T genotype for men alone. In females, however, genotype was significantly associated with cognitive empathy (r = -.204, p = 0.005) and perspective taking (r = -.209, p = 0.004), accounting for 4.2% and 4.4% of variability. The association of genotype with perspective taking remained significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons (p = 0.045). The 393C-allele, which had been identified as a risk factor in several medical conditions such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes, was associated with higher cognitive empathy compared to the T allele in our sample.ConclusionsThe results suggest a significant association of GNAS C393T genotypes with the cognitive empathic capacity of perspective taking. This association could only be found in female participants.

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The neurobiology of collective action

Cited by 33 publications

References 107 publications

Association of a Common Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism with Self-Reported ‘Empathic Concern’ in a Large Population of Healthy Volunteers

Association of a Common Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism with Self-Reported ‘Empathic Concern’ in a Large Population of Healthy Volunteers

The Volatility of Collective Action: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Data

Sex-specific association of a common GNAS polymorphism with self-reported cognitive empathy in healthy volunteers

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