Evoking empathy-An overlooked role of animal statues in zoos.

Empathy towards animals is a known influential factor in the likelihood for individuals to engage in conservation behavior, so it is of significant interest that the zoo community considers how to evoke constructive empathetic responses in their guests. To date, much of the research that has been conducted on empathy in zoos has focused on live animals, but are we overlooking a potential instrument of empathy-building? Based on observations made during an evaluation of guest interactions with a bronze animal statue, this paper will explore the potential for static, lifelike animal statues to serve as conduits for empathy-building and make a strong argument for the much needed research in this area.

Contrasting Social Media Use Between Young Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Type 1 Diabetes: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Social media is used by young adult patients for social connection and self-identification.

Objective: This study aims to compare the social media habits of young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of subjects from Boston Children's Hospital outpatient IBD and diabetes clinics.

Thin slice expert testimony and mock trial deliberations.

This study examined impressions of expert witness testimony in a not guilty by reason of insanity defense on two outcomes: witness's credibility and verdict. Borrowing in part from the "thin slice" methodology, we assessed outcomes in a 2 (deliberating vs. non-deliberating jurors) × 3 (length of videotaped testimony) between-subjects design.

Differences in expert witness knowledge: do mock jurors notice and does it matter?

The knowledge of experts presumably affects their credibility and the degree to which the trier of fact agrees with them. However, specific effects of demonstrated knowledge are largely unknown. In this experiment, we manipulated a forensic expert's level of knowledge in a mock-trial paradigm.

Surgical cardiac denervation therapy for treatment of congenital ion channelopathies in pediatric patients: a contemporary, single institutional experience.

Background: Congenital ion channel disorders, including congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS), cause significant morbidity in pediatric patients. When medication therapy does not control symptoms or arrhythmias, more invasive treatment strategies may be necessary. This study examines our institution's clinical experience with surgical cardiac denervation therapy for management of these arrhythmogenic disorders in children.

Empathy in forensic evaluations: a systematic reconsideration.

This paper reexamines the Shuman seminal paper arguing against empathic behaviors in forensic evaluations. Shuman concluded that empathy by examiners seduces evaluees into believing a therapeutic relationship exists. We reconsider empathy as an element of rapport and a helpful supplement in a successful assessment.