Science of Emotion and Sensibility (감성과학)

Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility (한국감성과학회)
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The Effect of Emotional and Cognitive Empathy on Happiness: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal

정서적 인지적 공감이 행복감에 미치는 영향: 인지적 재평가의 매개효과

  • 조명현 (고려대학교 4단계 BK21 심리학교육연구단)
  • Received : 2022.05.17
  • Accepted : 2022.06.22
  • Published : 2022.09.30
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Abstract

This study seeks to verify how empathic concern and perspective-taking predict happiness by investigating the mediating effects of cognitive reappraisal. Online surveys about empathic concern, perspective-taking, cognitive reappraisal, and happiness were conducted by 336 adult subjects. First, the correlation analysis indicated that empathic concern and perspective-taking significantly predicted cognitive reappraisal and happiness, respectively. Second, cognitive reappraisal also significantly predicted happiness. Third, the cognitive reappraisal mediated the association between empathic concern and happiness and between perspective-taking and happiness. Specifically, people who emotionally and cognitively empathize with others reported higher levels of cognitive reappraisal, which allowed them to experience higher levels of happiness. These findings have confirmed that people can increase their happiness by enhancing cognitive reappraisal through emotional and cognitive empathy. Finally, the implications and limitations of the present research are discussed.

본 연구의 목적은 정서적 인지적 공감 요인으로서 공감적 관여와 조망수용이 행복감을 예측하는지를 확인하고, 그 과정에 인지적 정서조절 기제인 인지적 재평가가 매개하는지를 검증하는 데 있다. 336명의 대한민국 성인 남녀를 대상으로 공감적 관여, 조망수용, 인지적 재평가, 행복감을 포함한 설문을 진행하였다. 분석 결과, 공감적 관여와 조망수용은 모두 인지적 재평가, 행복감과 유의한 정적 상관을 보였고, 인지적 재평가 역시 행복감과 유의한 정적 상관을 보였다. 또한 매개분석 결과, 인지적 재평가는 공감적 관여와 행복감 간의 관계는 물론 조망수용과 행복감 간의 관계 사이에서 유의한 수준으로 매개효과를 보였다. 구체적으로, 타인에게 정서적으로 공감하고 또한 인지적으로 이해하고 수용하는 사람들은 정서조절 장면에서 자신에게 처한 상황을 다시 바라보고 재평가하는 경향이 있어, 이는 궁극적으로 행복감으로 이어지는 것이다. 이 결과는 개인이 행복한 삶을 영위하기 위해 삶을 넓은 시각으로 보아야 하며 여기에 타인에 대한 공감이 기여하게 된다는 점을 보여준 결과라고 볼 수 있다. 끝으로, 본 연구의 시사점과 한계점이 함께 논의되었다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

연구는 경희대학교 비폭력연구소의 2021-2022 연구비 지원으로 이루어졌음.

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