Behavioral Consequences

Abstract

Abstract Interpersonal liabilities for feeling empathic concern can affect close others, strangers in need, and the person feeling empathy: (a) Empathic concern can produce paternalism and dependence. (b) It can inhibit one’s ability to act dispassionately when a cool head is needed. (c) Recognizing the likelihood of feeling empathic concern for another in need (and therefore empathy-induced altruistic motivation) can produce empathy avoidance—an egoistic motive to avoid the empathy-induced altruistic motive. (d) Empathic concern isn’t likely to be evoked by nonpersonalized needs, or abstract needs, or chronic needs. (e) It can lead us to show unfair partiality toward the person for whom it’s felt, which can lead us to hurt the common good in a social dilemma. Further, intrapersonal liabilities for the empathizer include: (f) risk of physical harm and (g) giving ground in conflict situations such as bargaining and negotiation.