Theory of Mind and Empathy in Typical Adults: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Theory of mind and empathy constitute sociocognitive skills central to understanding the social world and formulating responses within social contexts. However, studies continue to face the challenge of clarifying their boundaries and unraveling the presumed connections between them. This study aimed to conduct a scoping review of the conceptual interplay between theory of mind and empathy in research exploring socio-individual differences in typical adults, while also organizing these findings according to thematic categories. A total of 62 articles were analyzed, revealing five different models of relations between theory of mind and empathy, as well as three thematic production nuclei linked to social behavior, physiological variations in daily life, and cognitive, affective, and social variations. The study also discusses advancements and limitations in this field, pointing out both a fruitful production and the need to advance in the construction of more precise parameters in this area.