Narrowing down to open up for other people's concerns: Empathic concern can be enhanced by inducing detailed processing

Karl-Andrew Woltin; Olivier Corneille; Vincent Yzerbyt; Jens Foerster

doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2010.11.006

Narrowing down to open up for other people's concerns: Empathic concern can be enhanced by inducing detailed processing

Karl-Andrew Woltin, Olivier Corneille, Vincent Yzerbyt, Jens Foerster

School of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In three experiments inducing a detailed versus abstract processing style using perceptual (Experiment 1), motivational (Experiment 2), and social (Experiment 3) manipulations, we found that empathic concerns are enhanced in contexts associated with a more detailed processing style (i.e., local perceptual scope, prevention motivation, and low power, respectively). Hence, simple contextual changes known to impact on processing styles may influence empathy beyond individual differences. The present findings are discussed in terms of their implications for empathy research and their relation with research on mood and level of construal.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	418-424
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
Volume	47
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2010.11.006
Publication status	Published - 2011

Keywords

empathy
empathic concern
power
regulatory focus
processing styles

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jesp.2010.11.006

Cite this

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title = "Narrowing down to open up for other people's concerns: Empathic concern can be enhanced by inducing detailed processing",

abstract = "In three experiments inducing a detailed versus abstract processing style using perceptual (Experiment 1), motivational (Experiment 2), and social (Experiment 3) manipulations, we found that empathic concerns are enhanced in contexts associated with a more detailed processing style (i.e., local perceptual scope, prevention motivation, and low power, respectively). Hence, simple contextual changes known to impact on processing styles may influence empathy beyond individual differences. The present findings are discussed in terms of their implications for empathy research and their relation with research on mood and level of construal.",

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AU - Yzerbyt, Vincent

AU - Foerster, Jens

PY - 2011

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AB - In three experiments inducing a detailed versus abstract processing style using perceptual (Experiment 1), motivational (Experiment 2), and social (Experiment 3) manipulations, we found that empathic concerns are enhanced in contexts associated with a more detailed processing style (i.e., local perceptual scope, prevention motivation, and low power, respectively). Hence, simple contextual changes known to impact on processing styles may influence empathy beyond individual differences. The present findings are discussed in terms of their implications for empathy research and their relation with research on mood and level of construal.

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KW - empathic concern

KW - power

KW - regulatory focus

KW - processing styles

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