Ingroup bias in empathy and its relationship with social behaviour

Empathy plays a fundamental role in social behaviour but is modulated by intergroup relationships between empathizers and empathy targets. In this chapter, I summarise key findings of brain imaging studies that uncover ingroup biases in empathy and empathic brain activity. In addition, I review brain imaging findings that reveal relationships between ingroup bias in empathic brain activity and social behaviour towards ingroup/outgroup members. Finally, I discuss culturally universal and culturally specific origins of ingroup biases in empathy and underlying brain activity.