Schadenfreude or empathy? Children's emotional responses to the physical pain and pleasure of prosocial and antisocial others.

Adults' emotional reactions to the pain and pleasure of others are influenced by the moral character of those individuals. However, it remains unclear whether children's emotional responses also show such selectivity. To investigate this, we compared 4- to 8-year-old children's emotional responses to the physical pain and pleasure of prosocial versus antisocial puppets. In Study 1, children reported unhappiness after witnessing the pain of the prosocial and antisocial puppets but reported less unhappiness after witnessing the pain of the antisocial puppet. In Study 2, children reported happiness after witnessing the pleasure of both puppets but reported being less happy for the antisocial puppet. These results suggest that children are less likely to empathize with antisocial individuals. Meanwhile, children did not display Schadenfreude (pleasure at others' pain) or Gluckschmerz (displeasure at others' pleasure) toward antisocial individuals in our studies. Moreover, the selectivity of children's emotional responses disappeared after we manipulated the physical competence rather than the moral character of the puppets in Study 3. Our findings help to reveal the moral selectivity of emotional responses to others' pleasure and pain during early childhood.

The roles of teacher and parental support on adolescent cyber-bystander behaviors: a path analysis.

Introduction: The role of bystanders in cyberbullying situations is critical, with the potential to significantly influence outcomes. Bystanders who demonstrate positive behaviors-such as reporting incidents or supporting victims-can help to mitigate the damaging effects of cyberbullying. Based on the Social Cognitive Theory, this study seeks to address the psychosocial mechanisms that underlie positive cyber-bystander behaviors. Methods: A total of 1,716 students in Grades 8-12 from three secondary schools in China participated in this study. Path analysis was utilized to delineate the relationships between internet self-efficacy, empathy, teacher and parental support, and cyber-bystander behaviors. Results: Adolescents who received greater support from teachers were more likely to demonstrate increased internet self-efficacy and empathy. In contrast, higher levels of parental warmth were associated with lower levels of internet self-efficacy. Teacher support and parental warmth exerted an indirect effect on positive bystander behaviors through empathy. Discussion: The importance of parental warmth paired with Internet self-efficacy in preventing online interpersonal violence and motivate active bystander behaviors is considerable. We recommend adopting a nuanced approach that differentiates between empathy and internet self-efficacy in cyber-bystander research.

The name's bond. parasocial bond: imagined interactions and state-level empathy.

Empathy, whether state or trait, is an individual's ability to adopt another's perspective, feel another's feelings, or identify with another's situation (Campbell & Babrow, 2004; Davis, 1983; Nezlek etal., 2007). Research reliably shows relationships between empathy and parasocial interactions (e.g. psychological engagements with fictional characters; Giles, 2002; Tsao, 1996; Zillmann, 1994). The current study sought to identify the relationship between the type of parasocial interactions and subsequent changes in state-level empathy via an experimental design. Results indicate state-level empathy changes are contingent upon valence (i.e. Favorite vs. Least Favorite) and status (i.e. Real vs. Parasocial) of the imagined interaction.

'A certain magic' - autistic adults' experiences of interacting with other autistic people and its relation to Quality of Life: A systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis.

LAY ABSTRACT: Research has suggested that autistic people enjoy spending time with other autistic people and find them easier to talk to. We wanted to find out what autistic people say about spending time with other autistic people and whether this makes their life better. We found 52 papers which described this and reviewed what they found. We found that many autistic people had positive experiences of spending time with other autistic people and these experiences had positive impact on their lives in a range of different ways. The papers did not tell us whether this also happens for autistic people with a learning disability. More research is needed to find out more about why spending time with other autistic people helps some autistic people.

Potential Mechanism Linking Peer Relationships and Adolescent Prosocial Behavior: Mediation of Cognitive Empathy and Moderations of OXTR and DRD2.

Peers are important socializers of adolescent prosocial behavior. Still, the proximal cognitive and emotional process underlying this link and the sources of individual differences in sensitivity to peer influence have yet to be explored. Utilizing the gene-gene-environment (G × G × E) approach and multi-informant measurement, this study investigated how peer relationships operate to influence adolescent prosocial behavior by examining the mediating role of cognitive and emotional empathy, and the moderating role of the OXTR and DRD2 genes. The study utilized longitudinal data from a community sample of Chinese adolescents (N = 1080, Mage = 13.32 years at T1). Results showed that cognitive empathy rather than emotional empathy mediated the link between peer acceptance/rejection and prosocial behavior. Furthermore, the association among peer acceptance, cognitive empathy, and prosocial behavior was moderated by OXTR and DRD2. Specifically, adolescents with the combinations of AA/AA or G/G genotypes of OXTR/DRD2 benefited more from peer acceptance compared to their counterparts carrying other combined genotypes. The findings highlight cognitive empathy as a proximal process linking peer interaction to prosocial behavior and lend support to the interaction between oxytocinergic and dopaminergic systems on environmental sensitivity.

Mediating role of physician's empathy between physician's communication and patient's satisfaction.

Introduction: Physician communication is vital for an effective physician-patient relationship. Physician empathy is crucial to patient communication. The relationship between physician empathy, physician communication, and patient satisfaction is not very clear. This study aims to study the mediating role of physician's empathy between physician's communication, physician's empathy, and patient's satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, during the time period of December 2018 to February 2019. Employing the technique of purposive convenience sampling, data were collected (N = 238) from psychiatric, cardiology, and dermatology wards of public and private sector hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Communication Assessment Tool, specifically the Patient's Perception of Physician's Empathy and Patient Satisfaction Scale, was used to assess study variables. The measures used in the research assess the patient's perception of the physician's communication, empathy, and patient's satisfaction. Formal permission for the research was taken from the hospital administration with approval from the institutional review boards. Participants were briefed about the purpose of the research. Both verbal and written informed consent was taken from them. Results: The result shows that a physician's empathy plays a mediating role between the physician's communication skills and patient satisfaction. Moreover, Pearson product-moment correlation indicated a significant positive relationship between doctors' communication skills, doctors' empathy, and patients' satisfaction. Conclusion: Building a positive doctor-patient relationship would not only lead to improved patient satisfaction but also reduce the likelihood of medical malpractice. Therefore, steps should be taken to enforce trust, interaction, and empathy in doctor-patient relationships, with patient-centered services. Physician's empathy plays a mediating role between physician's communication skills and patient's satisfaction.

Empathy in undergraduate medical students: a multi-center cross-sectional study in China.

BACKGROUND: Fostering empathy has been continuously emphasized in the global medical education. Empathy is crucial to enhance patient-physician relationships, and is associated with medical students' academic and clinical performance. However, empathy level of medical students in China and related influencing factors are not clear. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among medical students in 11 universities. We used the Jefferson Scale of Empathy Student-version of Chinese version to measure empathy level of medical students. Factors associated with empathy were identified by the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Based on the variables identified above, the nomogram was established to predict high empathy probability of medical students. Receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration plot and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the discrimination, calibration and educational utility of the model. RESULTS: We received 10,901 samples, but a total of 10,576 samples could be used for further analysis (effective response rate of 97.02%). The mean empathy score of undergraduate medical students was 67.38 (standard deviation = 9.39). Six variables including gender, university category, only child or not, self-perception doctor-patient relationship in hospitals, interest of medicine, Kolb learning style showed statistical significance with empathy of medical students (P < 0.05). Then, the nomogram was established based on six variables. The validation suggested the nomogram model was well calibrated and had good utility in education, as well as area under the curve of model prediction was 0.65. CONCLUSIONS: We identify factors influencing empathy of undergraduate medical students. Moreover, increasing manifest and hidden curriculums on cultivating empathy of medical students may be needed among medical universities or schools in China.

Dispositional Empathy Among Psychotherapists: A Latent Profile Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined therapists' dispositional empathy profiles and how they differ based on professional and personal characteristics. METHOD: A total of 376 clinicians was recruited for this study. Dispositional empathy was assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Profiles were generated using latent profile analysis. Predictors of profiles were assessed with multiple self-report questionnaires measuring demographic and professional characteristics, romantic attachment styles, five-factor personality traits and vulnerable narcissism. RESULTS: A four-profile solution was retained with the following proportions: rational empathic (20%), disengaged/detached (10%), empathic immersion (35%) and insecure/self-absorbed (35%). Overall, few relationships were found regarding demographic and professional characteristics. In contrast, significant relationships were found between profile membership and personal characteristics, including avoidant and anxious attachment, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, intellect/imagination and vulnerable narcissism. CONCLUSION: The findings show that differences in therapists' empathic dispositions are linked to personality dimensions. Implications for psychotherapy research, practice and training are discussed.

The association between empathy and burnout in medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Burnout levels in medical students are higher than in other student groups. Empathy is an increasingly desired outcome of medical schools. Empathy is negatively associated with burnout in physicians. Our objective was to quantitatively review the available literature on associations between empathy and burnout in medical students, and to explore associations between specific empathy aspects (cognitive and affective) and burnout sub-dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment). METHODS: A comprehensive search of the literature published up until January 2024 was undertaken in the PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases. Two independent reviewers screened 498 records and quality-rated and extracted data from eligible studies. The effect size correlations (ESr) were pooled using a random-effects model and between-study variation explored with meta-regression. The review was preregistered with PROSPERO (#CRD42023467670) and reported following the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies including a total of 27,129 medical students published between 2010 and 2023 were included. Overall, empathy and burnout were negatively and statistically significantly associated (ESr: -0.15, 95%CI [-0.21; -0.10], p < .001). When analyzing sub-dimensions, cognitive empathy was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion (ESr: -0.10, 95%CI [-0.17; -0.03], p = .006) and depersonalization (ESr: -0.15, 95%CI [-0.24; 0.05], p = .003), and positively associated with personal accomplishment (ESr: 0.21, 95%CI [0.12; 0.30], p < .001). Affective empathy was not statistically significantly associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization or personal accomplishment. Supplementary Bayesian analysis indicated the strongest evidence for the positive association between cognitive empathy and personal accomplishment. Response rate and gender moderated the relationship so that higher response rates and more male respondents strengthen the negative association between empathy and burnout. CONCLUSION: Greater empathy, in particular cognitive empathy, is associated with lower burnout levels in medical students. This appears to be primarily driven by cognitive empathy's positive association with personal accomplishment. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: #CRD42023467670.

Indirect trauma exposure and secondary traumatic stress among professionals: Mediating role of empathy and cognitive trauma processing. / Posrednia ekspozycja na traume a wtórny stres traumatyczny wsród profesjonalistek: mediacyjna rola empatii i poznawczego przetwarzania traumy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between indirect trauma exposure, empathy, cognitive trauma processing, and the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in women who help people after experiencing violence. METHODS: The results obtained from 154 Polish female professionals representing three professional groups: therapists, social workers and probation officers were analyzed. The age of the respondents ranged from 26 to 67 years. The Secondary Traumatic Stress Inventory, the Empathic Sensitivity Scale, and the Cognitive Trauma Processing Scale were used. In addition, a survey including questions about secondary trauma exposure rates was developed (work experience, number of hours per week devoted to working with people who have experienced the trauma of violence, workload). RESULTS: The results found STS symptoms to be positively correlated with trauma exposure indicators, empathy and cognitive coping strategies. Moreover, cognitive strategies mediate the relationship between indirect trauma exposure and STS symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce STS symptoms, it may be advisable to use self-care practices more often and to change the cognitive coping strategies from negative to positive.

"Trying to write a story together": general practitioners' perspectives on culturally sensitive care.

BACKGROUND: Culturally sensitive care is integral to effective and equitable healthcare delivery, necessitating an understanding and acknowledgment of patients' cultural needs, preferences, and expectations. This study investigates the perceptions of cultural sensitivity among general practitioners (GPs), focusing on their intentions, willingness and perceived responsibilities in providing care tailored to cultural needs. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 Flemish GPs to explore their perspectives on culturally sensitive care. Data analysis followed a conventional qualitative content analysis approach within a constructivist framework. A coding scheme was developed to identify recurring themes and patterns in the GPs' responses. RESULTS: Findings reveal that culturally sensitive care provision is perceived as a multifaceted process, initiated by an exploration phase where GPs inquire about patients' cultural needs and preferences. Two pivotal factors shaping culturally sensitive care emerged: patients' specific cultural expectations and GPs' perceived responsibilities. These factors guided the process of culturally sensitive care towards three distinct outcomes, ranging from complete adaptation to patients' cultural requirements driven by a high sense of responsibility, through negotiation and compromise, to a paternalistic approach where GPs expect patients to conform to GPs' values and expectations. Three typologies of GPs in providing culturally sensitive care were identified: genuinely culturally sensitive, surface-level culturally sensitive, and those perceiving diversity as a threat. Stereotyping and othering persist in healthcare, underscoring the importance of critical consciousness and cultural reflexivity in providing patient-centered and equitable care. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the significance of empathy and underscores the necessity for GPs to embrace the exploration and acknowledgement of patients' preferences and cultural needs as integral aspects of their professional role. It highlights the importance of shared decision-making, critical consciousness, cultural desire and empathy. Understanding these nuances is essential for enhancing culturally sensitive care and mitigating healthcare disparities.

Effect of narrative videos and mini-VR games in nursing smoking cessation training on empathy and self-efficacy of smoking cessation counseling: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Empathy and self-efficacy for smoking cessation counseling can be enhanced through smoking cessation training. Narrative videos and virtual reality (VR) games have been applied in medical education, but their application in smoking cessation training is limited and understudied. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of smokers' narrative videos and mini-VR games on nursing students' empathy towards smokers (State Empathy Scale), confidence in practicing empathy, self-efficacy in smoking cessation counseling, and learning satisfaction. DESIGN: An open-labeled randomized controlled trial, registration number: NCT05440877 (ClinicalTrials.gov). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Master of nursing students from the University in Hong Kong who enrolled in a smoking cessation course. METHODS: All students attended a tutorial including case-based discussions and role-play. The intervention group could additionally access the narrative videos and mini-VR games of smokers' cases. Linear mixed models and Cohen's d were used to evaluate the intervention effect on the self-reported learning outcomes after the intervention. RESULTS: 26 students enrolled in this trial, with 13 in each trial arm. All completed the trial. Post-test state empathy scores were significantly higher in the control group than in the intervention group (Cohen's d = 0.814, p = 0.049). No significant group differences were observed in the change of confidence in practicing empathy (ß = -11.154, p = 0.073), self-efficacy (ß = 4.846, p = 0.096), and students' learning satisfaction (Cohen's d = 0.041, p = 0.917). Both groups showed a significant increase in self-efficacy post-test (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Narrative videos showing smoking scenes and reluctance to quit, and our mini-VR games may weaken nursing students' empathy towards smokers. Smoking cessation training involving narrative videos should be modified. Debriefing and guidance to understand smokers' difficulties and express empathy are needed. VR games for smoking cessation training can involve more frame stories and challenging tasks to increase engagement.

Cognitive and emotional empathy in acute and remitted anorexia nervosa: a systematic review.

Background: Impairments in empathy are well established in anorexia nervosa (AN). It is unclear, however, whether these deficits only occur in the acute phases of AN due to neurocognitive impacts of starvation (often referred to as context-dependent, or state-like), or if deficits remain once remission has been achieved (trait-like). This debate is commonly referred to as the 'state vs trait' debate. Objective: This systematic review aims to summarise existing literature regarding empathy in AN, and to investigate whether empathy deficits in AN are state- or trait-based. Method: A total of 1014 articles were identified, and seven articles remained after the screening process. These seven articles, comparing empathy across three groups (acute AN, remission of AN, and non-clinical controls), were evaluated and summarised in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Articles were required to have included all three groups and report on either cognitive empathy and/or emotional empathy. Results: The majority of studies were of satisfactory quality. The results identified were inconsistent, with few articles lending some support to the 'state' hypothesis and others producing nonsignificant results. Conclusions: There is minimal literature comparing empathy in acute and remission phases of AN. While there were some inconsistencies in included articles, some data indicate that there may be slight improvements to emotional and cognitive empathy following recovery of AN. Further research is needed to better enrich knowledge regarding the role of state vs trait with regard to neurocognitive difficulties experienced by individuals with AN. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=335669, identifier CRD42022335669.

Empathy in schizophrenia: neural alterations during emotion recognition and affective sharing.

Introduction: Deficits in emotion recognition and processing are characteristic for patients with schizophrenia [SCZ]. Methods: We targeted both emotion recognition and affective sharing, one in static and one in dynamic facial stimuli, during functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI] in 22 SCZ patients and 22 matched healthy controls [HC]. Current symptomatology and cognitive deficits were assessed as potential influencing factors. Results: Behaviorally, patients only showed a prolonged response time in age-discrimination trials. For emotion-processing trials, patients showed a difference in neural response, without an observable behavioral correlate. During emotion and age recognition in static stimuli, a reduced activation of the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex [ACC] and the right anterior insula [AI] emerged. In the affective sharing task, patients showed a reduced activation in the left and right caudate nucleus, right AI and inferior frontal gyrus [IFG], right cerebellum, and left thalamus, key areas of empathy. Discussion: We conclude that patients have deficits in complex visual information processing regardless of emotional content on a behavioral level and that these deficits coincide with aberrant neural activation patterns in emotion processing networks. The right AI as an integrator of these networks plays a key role in these aberrant neural activation patterns and, thus, is a promising candidate area for neurofeedback approaches.

Exploring levels of empathy and assertiveness in final year physiotherapy students during clinical placements.

Empathy and assertiveness are two essential soft skills for any healthcare professional's competence and ethical development. It has been shown that empathy can be influenced throughout the training of a future healthcare professional, particularly during the clinical placement period. This research aims to assess fourth-year physiotherapy students' empathic and assertive development before and after clinical placement. A longitudinal observational study was conducted with fourth-year physiotherapy students during the academic year 2022/2023. A preliminary assessment of empathy and assertiveness levels was carried out before the start of the clinical placement and at the end of the placement using the Individual Reactivity Index to assess empathy and the Rathus Test to assess assertiveness. The results show a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in both the empathy subscales of perspective-taking and empathic-concern between the pre- and postassessment, as well as an inverse correlation between the empathy subscale of personal distress and assertiveness. It is concluded that students show adequate results in empathy and assertiveness. However, there is some influence of clinical practice on the development of empathy, and future intervention studies need to be considered. Furthermore, students with higher levels of assertiveness have lower levels of personal distress, suggesting that assertiveness is closely related to empathy.

Considering the Role of Human Empathy in AI-Driven Therapy.

Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) language models have elevated the vision of using conversational AI support for mental health, with a growing body of literature indicating varying degrees of efficacy. In this paper, we ask when, in therapy, it will be easier to replace humans and, conversely, in what instances, human connection will still be more valued. We suggest that empathy lies at the heart of the answer to this question. First, we define different aspects of empathy and outline the potential empathic capabilities of humans versus AI. Next, we consider what determines when these aspects are needed most in therapy, both from the perspective of therapeutic methodology and from the perspective of patient objectives. Ultimately, our goal is to prompt further investigation and dialogue, urging both practitioners and scholars engaged in AI-mediated therapy to keep these questions and considerations in mind when investigating AI implementation in mental health.

The dark side of personality functioning: associations between antisocial cognitions, personality functioning (AMPD), empathy and mentalisation.

Introduction: With the introduction of the new psychiatric diagnostic manuals, personality functioning has gained new prominence. Several studies have reported consistent findings that individual showing high levels of antisocial features are associated with alterations in interpersonal functioning domains such as empathy and mentalisation. The focus of the current study (N = 198) is to examine antisocial cognitions, as measured by the Scrambled Sentences Task (SST), and to what extent this approach can help to better understand the relationship between antisocial traits and personality functioning/empathy. Method: We implemented a hypothesis-driven approach using logistic regression and a data-driven approach using machine learning to examine distinct but related measures of personality functioning as predictors of antisocial cognitions. Results: Antisocial cognitions were associated with low interpersonal functioning as expected, but only when not adjusting for antisocial traits, which accounted for almost all the association. The data-driven analysis revealed that individual items assessing empathic concern in personality functioning scales (as opposed to the whole scores) explained low antisocial cognitions even when adjusting for antisocial traits. Discussion: Antisocial cognitions appear to be associated to two distinct traits, the antisocial and a specific type of personality functioning. This finding is discussed in terms of the possible distinction between two motivational forces: to harm others/prioritize one's advantage, and to help suffering others.

Well-being in newly qualified doctors: exploring the value of peer-led reflective sessions.

INTRODUCTION: Following the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing pressures within the National Health Service, there has been an increasing concern about the well-being of junior doctors in the UK. Newly qualified doctors are particularly vulnerable due to the significant shift in responsibility they experience. OBJECTIVES: To implement peer-led reflective session for foundation year 1 (FY1) (first-year postgraduation) doctors and to create a dedicated space in which doctors could share difficult or challenging experiences. METHODS: In 2021 and 2022, peer-led reflective sessions were held for FY1s in a district general hospital in London, England. Feedback assessing well-being, perceived levels of support, as well as session benefits and areas for improvement, was obtained throughout the year. Qualitative feedback underwent thematic analysis to understand key benefits of the sessions. RESULTS: Feedback collected at the launch of the initiative revealed that over 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their mental health and well-being had been negatively impacted by work. The majority felt additional support was needed. All attendees found reflective sessions useful. Key benefits were as follows: the provision of a safe psychological space, sharing experiences and reflecting with peers, building relationships with colleagues and the reassurance that others struggled with similar challenges. CONCLUSION: FY1 doctors reported that starting work negatively affected their well-being and that additional support was needed. Facilitated peer-led reflective sessions were beneficial and offered a supportive environment for FY1s to share and reflect. We propose the initiative can serve members of the wider healthcare team, including doctors of different grades and nurses.

Algorithms for Empathy: Using Machine Learning to Categorize Common Empathetic Traits Across Professional and Peer-Based Conversations.

Introduction In this article, we describe our creation of a machine-learning model that uses a combination of rule-based and natural language processing (NLP) algorithms. We show how this "Empathy Algorithm" was developed and how its results compare to three datasets of professional counseling and peer-led conversations.  Methods These conversation datasets were rated by people with varying degrees of empathetic expertise (from counselors to student volunteers) and labeled as either low- or high-quality empathy. Our methodology involved running both these "low-empathy" and "high-empathy" conversations through our algorithm and then looking for a correlation between conversations labeled "high empathy" and an increased presence of six empathy skills flagged by our algorithm.  Results We found positive correlations between four of the six skills that our algorithm measures (i.e., four empathizing skills showed up the same or more in each of the "high-empathy" conversations within the three datasets). This suggests that certain empathizing skills are not only consistently present in effective conversations but also quantifiable enough to be measured by today's machine-learning models. Conclusion While limitations of language, binary classifications, and non-verbal cues remain as opportunities for further development, using algorithms to objectively assess empathic skills represents an important step to improve client outcomes and refine communication practices for today's healthcare professionals.

Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition.

Age-related trajectories of intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC), which represent the interconnections between discrete regions of the human brain, for processes related to social cognition (SC) provide evidence for social development through neural imaging and can guide clinical interventions when such development is atypical. However, due to the lack of studies investigating brain development over a wide range of ages, the neural mechanisms of SC remain poorly understood, although considerable behavior-related evidence is available. The present study mapped vortex-wise iFC features between SC networks and the entire cerebral cortex by using common functional networks, creating the corresponding age-related trajectories. Three networks [moral cognition, theory of mind (ToM), and empathy] were selected as representative SC networks. The Enhanced Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample (NKI-RS, N = 316, ages 8-83 years old) was employed delineate iFC characteristics and construct trajectories. The results showed that the SC networks display unique and overlapping iFC profiles. The iFC of the empathy network, an age-sensitive network, with dorsal attention network was found to exhibit a linear increasing pattern, that of the ventral attention network was observed to exhibit a linear decreasing pattern, and that of the somatomotor and dorsal attention networks was noted to exhibit a quadric-concave iFC pattern. Additionally, a sex-specific effect was observed for the empathy network as it exhibits linear and quadric sex-based differences in iFC with the frontoparietal and vision networks, respectively. The iFC of the ToM network with the ventral attention network exhibits a pronounced quadric-convex (inverted U-shape) trajectory. No linear or quadratic trajectories were noted in the iFC of the moral cognition network. These findings indicate that SC networks exhibit iFC with both low-level (somatomotor, vision) and high-level (attention and control) networks along specific developmental trajectories. The age-related trajectories determined in this study advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms of SC, providing valuable references for identification and intervention in cases of development of atypical SC.