Fritz Breithaupt

Fritz Breithaupt is Professor of German in the Department of Germanic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. He is a leading interdisciplinary scholar bridging the humanities and cognitive science, with a focus on narrative, empathy, and aesthetics. He directs the Experimental Humanities Laboratory and is affiliated with MindCORE, fostering collaboration across psychology, informatics, and literary studies.

His research centers on the cognitive and emotional mechanisms of narrative and empathy. He has developed the influential Three-Person Model of Empathy, explaining how observers in conflicts develop biased empathy, leading to polarization. He introduced the concept of Empathic Vampirism and linked Stockholm Syndrome to empathy dynamics. His experimental work shows that emotions like joy, awe, and triumph are better retained in narrative transmission than factual details.

His publications span top journals in science (PNAS, Scientific Reports) and humanities (Critical Inquiry, DVJS). His book The Narrative Brain won Austria's Science Book of the Year award. Media outlets such as NPR, BBC, Der Spiegel, and Die Zeit have featured his work, highlighting its broad impact.

His major books include:

• The Narrative Brain (2019)
• The Dark Sides of Empathy (2017)
• Kulturen der Empathie (2011)
• Der Ich-Effekt des Geldes (2008)
• Jenseits der Bilder (2003)

His research reveals a consistent trend: narratives are fundamentally emotional constructs that shape moral cognition, social bonding, and identity. He demonstrates that empathy is not merely virtuous but can be manipulated and weaponized, especially in narrative contexts.

Scientific awards:

• Science Book of the Year (Austria) - for The Narrative Brain

Fritz Breithaupt advises interdisciplinary research teams and mentors scholars through his Experimental Humanities Lab. Although specific students are not listed, he actively recruits researchers via email and maintains a vibrant lab environment both on-campus (Williams Hall 601-603) and online. He has received institutional support enabling cross-disciplinary projects, though specific grants are not detailed. His work is supported by affiliations with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The New Institute in Hamburg.

The Experimental Humanities Laboratory brings together scholars from cognitive science, psychology, informatics, and the humanities to investigate narrative and empathy through experimental and theoretical methods. The lab operates both physically at Penn and virtually, promoting accessible, collaborative research across traditional academic boundaries.