Social Neuroscience studies of racial in-group bias in empathy

Shihui Han, Professor
School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University

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Empathy is supposed to play a functional role in prosocial behavior. However, there has been behavioral evidence that people do not empathize everyone equally. Shihui Han presented studies that show brain imaging evidence for racial ingroup bias in empathy for pain. These studies reveal multiple-level neural mechanisms underlying racial ingroup bias in empathy. Professor also discussed potential intervention of racial ingroup bias in empathy and its social implications.