According to Rosalba Morese , fostering empathy in community relationships can help protect against issues like bullying and cyberbullying. "These days, we frequently discuss the lack of empathy, as many people appear to be increasingly detached and uninterested in the problems of others. However, there is little focus on the population segment that demonstrates a high degree of sensitivity," explained the USI’s researcher. The profile of highly sensitive individuals was first introduced by Californian psychologist Elaine Aron. She discovered that the brains of these individuals exhibit increased activation in areas associated with attention, emotion, and consciousness when they perceive and process sensory, emotional, and cognitive stimuli. This sensitivity is not a pathological condition but rather a distinct way of being. It can lead to many advantages in everyday life, such as a heightened ability to process stimuli. However, it can also present complexities, such as increased attention to emotional and relational dynamics. Therefore, it is essential to explore these aspects further to provide effective support and assistance.
Rosalba Morese’s studies advance beyond previous research by analysing how enhanced sensitivity impacts interpersonal relationships in concrete terms. Together with Professor Sara Palermo (University of Turin) and her collaborators Alessia Izzo and Lucia Morellini, Rosalba Morese published an in which a theoretical model is proposed to explain what happens in the brains of highly sensitive people who experience a situation of social exclusion. ’We know that the human brain perceives exclusion similarly to physical pain: in highly sensitive individuals, in particular, a neurophysiological response associated with the anticipation of pain may be triggered, leading to an increased activation of negative emotions. This theoretical model paves the way for new investigations in different social contexts, helping us to understand which educational and therapeutic strategies can assist these individuals in managing complex situations," explained Rosalba Morese.
Among the complex situations to which the researcher refers is cyberbullying: "It is certainly a very topical subject, also in the field of neuroscience. We know, in fact, that the human brain perceives the virtual world as real; however, the processes involved in regulating our emotions are not as effective in these virtual interactions compared to face-to-face interactions. Therefore, it is important to identify the factors that can have a preventive or protective role in these online contexts," explained Morese, who, together with Matteo Angelo Fabris, Claudio Longobardi and Davide Marengo (University of Turin), conducted a study on the subject involving 156 adolescents living in northern Italy. The research began with an initial profiling of the young participants to assess their levels of empathy and potential involvement in acts of cyberbullying. Following this assessment, the participants played Cyberball, a game where the ball is passed between two other virtual players. At a certain point in the game, those two players start passing the ball only to each other, excluding the participants from the experiment. This setup allows researchers to simulate and study the feelings associated with social exclusion in a laboratory setting. Analysing the reactions of the participants, Rosalba Morese and colleagues observed that victims of cyberbullying tend to react more negatively to both experiences of inclusion and exclusion, probably due to a negative cognitive bias. Since cyberbullying can become an important risk factor for situations of great distress, especially for those who process emotions and social situations more elaborately and intensely, Rosalba Morese aims to further her research to investigate how these findings can be utilised to prevent risk factors associated with adolescent suicide. She hopes to develop more effective support and intervention programs as a result.
Empathy, the ability to feel and understand other people’s emotions, on the other hand, seems to be a factor that can prevent cyberbullying: "Promoting empathic behaviour in teenagers can reduce the likelihood of bullying and, at the same time, foster a pro-social attitude that creates a support network around bullying victims" explained Rosalba Morese.
Since 2025, the areas considered by the researcher in her studies have expanded: "I decided to deepen my research on empathy by evaluating not only its psychosocial aspects but also its clinical aspects. In January, in collaboration with Neurocentro and the Sasso Corbaro Foundation , we will be launching a new study on the empathy and compassion deficit in neurodegenerative diseases, supported by the Foundation for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases in Adults and the Elderly," Rosalba Morese concluded.
The complete interview with Rosalba Morese, edited by Elisa Buson for Ticino Scienza, is available at the following.
