In psychology, personal distress is an aversive, self-focused emotional reaction (e.g., anxiety, worry, discomfort) to the apprehension or comprehension of another's emotional state or condition. This negative affective state often occurs as a result of emotional contagion when there is confusion between self and other. Unlike empathy, personal distress does not have to be congruent with the other's state, and often leads to a self-oriented, egoistic reaction to reduce it, by withdrawing from the stressor, for example, thereby decreasing the likelihood of prosocial behavior.[1] There is evidence that sympathy and personal distress are subjectively different,[2] have different somatic and physiological correlates,[3] and relate in different ways to prosocial behavior.[4]
- ^ Tice, D.M., Bratslavsky, E., & Baumeister, R.F. (2001). "Emotional distress regulation takes precedence over impulse control: If you feel bad, do it!" Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80, 53–67.
- ^ Batson, C.D., etal. (1987). "Five studies testing two new egoistic alternatives to the empathy-altruism hypothesis". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 52–77
- ^ Eisenberg, N., McCreath, H., & Ahn, R. (1988). "Vicarious emotional responsiveness and prosocial behavior: their interrelations in young children". Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 14, 298–311.
- ^ Eisenberg, N., & Miller, P.A. (1987). "The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors". Psychological Bulletin, 101, 91-1 19.[page needed]
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