Comparing Levels of Situational Empathy based on medium of exposure to Covid-19 Mortality Information: Does Political Affiliation Impact Levels of Situational Empathy?

Author(s)

Keira N. Mills, Bowling Green State UniversityFollow
Kaylee Ries, Bowling Green State UniversityFollow
Beth Durkin, Bowling Green State UniversityFollow
Abby Braden, Bowling Green State UniversityFollow
Wesley Barnhart, Bowling Green State UniversityFollow

Abstract

Psychophysical numbing, compassion fading, and the singularity effect are strongly affecting the world amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Empathy-motivated prosocial behavior is not consistent with the drastic number of lives lost due to COVID-19. The current study evaluated participants for situational empathy levels post-exposure to either COVID-19 death statistics or a personal reflection on loss due to COVID-19. Alongside empathy, political affiliation and COVID-19 personal loss were measured as potential moderators on the relationship between medium of exposure to mortality information and empathy levels in the sample.

Department

Psychology

Major

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Abby Braden

First Advisor Department

Psychology

Second Advisor

Dr. Monica Longmore

Second Advisor Department

Sociology

Publication Date

Spring 4-24-2023

Repository Citation

Mills, Keira N.; Ries, Kaylee; Durkin, Beth; Braden, Abby; and Barnhart, Wesley, "Comparing Levels of Situational Empathy based on medium of exposure to Covid-19 Mortality Information: Does Political Affiliation Impact Levels of Situational Empathy?" (2023). Honors Projects. 880.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/honorsprojects/880