APS
2026 APS Annual Convention
Empathy for Bad Actors [Symposium Submission #12957]
This symposium integrates behavioral, emotional, and computational approaches to examine how people judge, empathize with, help, or seek information about “bad actors.” Across four empirical talks, presenters analyze blame, schadenfreude, altruistic generosity, and moral curiosity. Discussant Daryl Cameron will synthesize these themes through the lens of motivated empathy.
Chairs & Discussants
- Paige AmorminoChair
Pennsylvania State University - Jordan WylieCoChair
Assistant Professor - C. Daryl CameronDiscussant
The Pennsylvania State University
Presentations
- Historical Factors In Criminal Decision Making and Assignment of Praise: How Pasts Influence Judgements of Moral Character, Praiseworthiness, and Legal ConsequencesWiktoria Pedryc
- Why Might We Find Joy In Others’ Suffering: Social and Cognitive Benefits and Costs of SchadenfreudeJolie Kretzschmar
- Altruists’ Generosity Toward Bad Actors: Moral Scrutiny, Empathy, and Helping the UndeservingPaige Amormino
- What Drives Moral Information-Seeking?Jordan Wylie
