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Summary

Researchers are exploring the use of Virtual Reality (VR) as a tool to enhance empathy in sexual offenders, with promising results suggesting it could potentially rehabilitate individuals with a history of violence and lack of empathy.

Abstract

The article discusses the innovative use of Virtual Reality (VR) as an 'Empathy Machine' to instill empathy in sex offenders. It highlights the potential of VR to transform the attitudes and behaviors of individuals who have historically shown a lack of empathy, often described as a void or absence of humanity in their eyes. The research indicates that participants who underwent VR-based empathy programs experienced increased empathy for rape survivors and a reduction in rape myth acceptance, as well as decreased likelihood of committing rape or sexual assault. Despite these promising outcomes, the article raises critical questions about the authenticity of empathy developed through such interventions, especially in individuals diagnosed with psychopathy, sociopathy, or narcissism, who are known for their manipulative abilities. The article also reflects on the challenges of trust and forgiveness, emphasizing that genuine remorse is essential for change and that empathy is a cornerstone of morality.

Opinions

  • The author acknowledges the potential of VR to awaken empathy in individuals who have committed sexual offenses, suggesting it could lead to significant positive changes in their behavior.
  • There is skepticism about the genuineness of empathy that can be taught, particularly in psychopaths, sociopaths, and narcissists who are adept at manipulation.
  • The article questions whether people, especially those with a history of violence, can truly change and express genuine remorse, which is necessary for trust and forgiveness.
  • The author expresses personal doubt about the effectiveness of VR as an empathy tool, given the belief that once empathy is lost, it cannot be regained, and such individuals remain a danger to society.
  • The article challenges the reader to consider the implications of trusting someone who has undergone empathy rehabilitation, using high-profile cases like Ted Bundy and hypothetical scenarios involving child predators to illustrate the complexity of the issue.

If Empathy Enhancement Worked, Could Psychopaths Be Trusted?

Scientists test Virtual Reality as a tool to enhance empathy in sexual offenders

Photo by Lucrezia Carnelos on Unsplash

If you have been unfortunate enough to come close to a person with no empathy, you might know what I mean when I say you can see it in their eyes. Victims sometimes refer to it as blackness in their eyes, but I see it as nothingness. There is nothing in them that resembles a soul, a conscience, or humanity.

But what if we could awaken humanity in them?

History of previous violence is the best indicator of future violence. Attitudes towards women and sexuality are formed early in life. We know sex offenders are motivated more by a need for power and control than anything else. How could VR change this?

Researchers have been trying virtual reality as a tool to enhance empathy in sex offenders, and with some promising results. It has been referred to as an ‘Empathy Machine’. Offenders were given the victim’s role to ‘experience’ what they had done (within the limits of ethics).

Program participants reported significant increases in empathy toward rape survivors and significant declines in rape myth acceptance, likelihood of raping, and likelihood of committing sexual assault.

Photo by Javardh on Unsplash

To think that one day we could teach empathy. The academic in me was thinking, ‘wow, that’s amazing, this could change so much!’. The sceptic in me, the one that’s been through trauma and seen the true horror human beings can inflict on each other was thinking, ‘Oh, jog on. I’m not f*cking falling for no empathy rehabilitation’.

Psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists are highly manipulative. How do we measure a genuine change in individuals who can already imitate empathy? What about other cases where there’s no evidence of psychopathy (I’m thinking of Chris Watts), and the lack of empathy was not an underlying ‘symptom’ to be corrected?

Imagine if Ted Bundy hadn’t been executed and instead gone through an empathy rehabilitation program. Would anyone trust him around campus girls? What if you were raped and told your perpetrator had now learnt empathy? Would you trust a convicted paedophile around your children?

I suppose the question comes down to whether people can truly change. It’s about trust and forgiveness — and you can gain neither of these without genuine remorse. Can a psychopath ever be genuinely remorseful?

We used to think that empathy is something you’re born with or without. Then we believed that you could be born with it and then lose it through adverse childhood experiences (sociopaths and narcissists). But it’s been accepted that once you’ve lost it, it’s gone, and you’re a danger to others because empathy guides morality.

Can we trust a video game tool to change this? I’m not convinced.

Psychology
Empathy
Virtual Reality
Rape
Rape Culture
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