Cited by 2,672Emotions and Moral BehaviorChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

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The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors

Eisenberg, Nancy, Miller, Paul A.·1987·Psychological Bulletin

DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.101.1.91

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Abstract

In a prior review involving a meta-analysis (Underwood & Moore, 1982), no relation between affective empathy and prosocial behavior was found. In this article, the literature relevant to this issue is reexamined. The studies were organized according to the method used to assess empathy. When appropriate, meta-analyses were computed. In contrast to the earlier review, low to moderate positive relations generally were found between empathy and both prosocial behavior and cooperative/socially competent behavior. The method of assessing empathy did influence the strength of the relations; picture/story measures of empathy were not associated with prosocial behavior, whereas nearly all other measures were. Several possible explanations for the pattern of findings are discussed, as are the implications of the findings.

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Self-citation
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“One possible explanation worthy of further investigation is that mentalizing may enhance the quality of an emotionally close interaction as it progresses by facilitating social competence (Davis, 1983) and prosocial behaviors (Eisenberg & Miller, 1987).”
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“Altruistic behavior, the voluntary action intended to benefit another person without the expectancy of receiving external rewards or avoiding external punishments (Eisenberg & Miller, 1987), can have many motives.”
Background

Authors: Eisenberg, N., & Miller, P. A.
Affiliations: Arizona State University (US)
Nanjing University (CN)
ORCID: Eisenberg, Nancy
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1987
Volume: 101
Issue: 1
Pages: 91-119
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.101.1.91
OpenAlex: W2005210865
Cited by: 2,672
References: 124
Citations by year: 2026: 125 · 2025: 141 · 2024: 147 · 2023: 131 · 2022: 132 · 2021: 164 · 2020: 163 · 2019: 131 · 2018: 144 · 2017: 165 · 2016: 167 · 2015: 118 · 2014: 129 · 2013: 119 · 2012: 85
FWCI: 29.54
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: U.S. Public Health Service (935691)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords: empathy, affective empathy, prosocial behavior, cooperative behavior, social competence
MeSH terms: Empathy, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Social Behavior

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The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors

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