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When compassion leads to paternalism: How empathy can create perceptions of incompetence

Reeves, Stephanie Lauren
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1493739379598356

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Conventional wisdom and psychological research suggest that empathy is one of the most effective ways to promote intergroup relations. We suggest, however, that certain types of empathy may in fact backfire and undermine intergroup relations. Specifically, in the present research we examined whether empathy focused only on a racial minority group target’s disadvantages and struggles – what we refer to as paternalistic empathy – would lead majority group members to form more negative impressions of the target. In addition, we examined whether respectful empathy, or empathy that focuses on the target’s strengths in addition to their disadvantages, would lead to more positive impressions of the target. In Study 1, White participants who engaged in paternalistic empathy for a Black target showed more pity for the target and perceived him as less competent (vs. a respectful empathy condition and a control condition). Participants who engaged in respectful empathy for the target perceived him as more competent (vs. the control condition). Study 2 addresses alternative explanations associated with the results of Study 1. Lastly, Study 3 was a two-part study that examined the effects of paternalistic empathy on White’s behaviors toward a Black job candidate in an interview task, and how White’s behaviors might in turn affect a job candidate’s interview performance. In Study 3a we found that participants who engaged in paternalistic empathy asked the Black job candidate more non-diagnostic and fewer competence-eliciting interview questions. In Study 3b, we found a trend such that the interview questions asked by participants in the paternalistic empathy condition in Study 3a tended to elicit worse interview answers from a new sample of undergraduate students. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for strategies to reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations.
Spencer Steven, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Crocker Jennifer, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Fujita Kentaro, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
61 p.
Psychology
empathy, intergroup relations, paternalistic prejudice, perspective-taking

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Reeves, S. L. (2017). When compassion leads to paternalism: How empathy can create perceptions of incompetence [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1493739379598356

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Reeves, Stephanie. When compassion leads to paternalism: How empathy can create perceptions of incompetence. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1493739379598356.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Reeves, Stephanie. "When compassion leads to paternalism: How empathy can create perceptions of incompetence." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1493739379598356

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1493739379598356
894
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.
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