Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
Faculty/School
Faculty of Science
First Advisor
Not Applicable
Advisor Role
Not Applicable
Abstract
The present studies were designed to examine if people empathize with a member of a different ethnicity as readily as a member of their own ethnicity. In Study 1, participants read a mock radio program about a target who was either of the same or different ethnicity. It was predicted that participants would empathize less with an ethnic outgroup member due to feelings of dissimilarity based on group membership. Results from Study 1 indicate no significant differences in levels of empathy and perspective taking based on target ethnicity. Study 2 sought to increase the salience of ethnicity and also included measures of perspective taking and self-other overlap. However, no significant differences based on ethnicity or perspective taking instructions were found suggesting that people may take the perspective of an ethnic outgroup member as readily as an ethnic ingroup member.
Recommended Citation
Macdonald, Gillian, "Empathy and intergroup relations: Do people empathize less with outgroup members?" (2005). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 764.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/764
Convocation Year
2005
Convocation Season
Spring