The Effects of Cognitive and Affective Empathy on Moral Decision-Making

Abstract

This retrospective paper's goal is to review the research that has been done on how empathy affects moral decision-making and choices. Two major aspects are reviewed, namely the relationship between empathy and morality. Other relevant factors that work together with empathy to affect people's moral decisions were also examined. This review primarily summarized the most updated research studies that examined how moral judgments are affected by cognitive and affective empathy in both non-clinical and clinical populations. Finally, it is concluded that empathy is a basic and important ability for people to make moral decisions, but there are many factors, such as attachment. Attachment and emotional factors can play an essential role in people's moral decisions. Limitations of previous study were also discussed and analyzed. Future directions of research were explored as well. This review can provide some suggestions for the development of prevention and intervention courses for morality and prosocial behavior.