dc.description.abstract |
Reading and empathy have been empirically linked (Bal & Veltkamp, 2013; Dodell-Feder &
Tamir, 2018; Mumper & Gerrig, 2017; Van Lissa & Durren, 2016), with past findings showing
reading can increase empathy. The Affective Disposition Theory (ADT) states that enjoyment of
a story depends on valence of character morality (Raney et al., 2009). The current study adapted
the ADT to literature by exploring how transportation, rather than enjoyment, into a story could
impact participant’s empathy toward immoral characters. Participants read one version of a short
story in which the main character either engaged in moral behaviors (e.g., telling the truth) or
immoral behaviors (e.g., lying) and experienced a difficult situation at the end of the story.
Participants’ state empathy was measured with 14 Likert scale questions (e.g., “I wanted
different outcomes for the character”), their trait empathy was measured with the Interpersonal
Reactivity Index, and their transportation was measured with 12 Likert scale questions.
Participants liked the moral character more than the immoral character. Character liking was
positively correlated with state empathy scores in both conditions. There was no significant
positive correlation between transportation and state empathy, which is inconsistent with
previous research (Johnson, 2012). The current study found that readers expressed higher levels
of empathy for the moral character than the immoral character. The implications from this study
suggest that type of character may have a positive or negative effect on empathy levels, and
content of stories have a strong impact on empathetic development. |
en_US |