Behavioral Consequences

Abstract

Abstract The most frequently mentioned intergroup benefit is that empathic concern can produce more positive attitudes and action toward a stigmatized out-group. Although empathic concern is an interpersonal not intergroup emotion, it offers this benefit when empathy induced for a member of a stigmatized group increases valuing the stigmatized individual’s welfare and then this valuing generalizes to other members of the stigmatized group. Research indicates that this generalization can occur as long as the individual’s membership in the stigmatized group is central to the need for which empathy is induced. Other research suggests that adopting an imagine-self perspective toward a member of a stigmatized group can produce perceptual/cognitive benefits, including reduced stereotyping of the group and more situational attributions for the behavior of out-group members.