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The Role of Compassion in Altruistic Helping and Punishment Behavior

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  • Helen Y Weng
  • Andrew S Fox
  • Heather C Hessenthaler
  • Diane E Stodola
  • Richard J Davidson

Abstract

Compassion, the emotional response of caring for another who is suffering and that results in motivation to relieve suffering, is thought to be an emotional antecedent to altruistic behavior. However, it remains unclear whether compassion enhances altruistic behavior in a uniform way or is specific to sub-types of behavior such as altruistic helping of a victim or altruistic punishment of a transgressor. We investigated the relationship between compassion and subtypes of altruistic behavior using third-party paradigms where participants 1) witnessed an unfair economic exchange between a transgressor and a victim, and 2) had the opportunity to either spend personal funds to either economically a) help the victim or b) punish the transgressor. In Study 1, we examined whether individual differences in self-reported empathic concern (the emotional component of compassion) was associated with greater altruistic helping or punishment behavior in two independent samples. For participants who witnessed an unfair transaction, trait empathic concern was associated with greater helping of a victim and had no relationship to punishment. However, in those who decided to punish the transgressor, participants who reported greater empathic concern decided to punish less. In Study 2, we directly enhanced compassion using short-term online compassion meditation training to examine whether altruistic helping and punishment were increased after two weeks of training. Compared to an active reappraisal training control group, the compassion training group gave more to help the victim and did not differ in punishment of the transgressor. Together, these two studies suggest that compassion is related to greater altruistic helping of victims and is not associated with or may mitigate altruistic punishment of transgressors.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Y Weng & Andrew S Fox & Heather C Hessenthaler & Diane E Stodola & Richard J Davidson, 2015. "The Role of Compassion in Altruistic Helping and Punishment Behavior," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0143794
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143794
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Susanne Leiberg & Olga Klimecki & Tania Singer, 2011. "Short-Term Compassion Training Increases Prosocial Behavior in a Newly Developed Prosocial Game," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(3), pages 1-10, March.
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    2. María Alonso-Ferres & Ginés Navarro-Carrillo & Marta Garrido-Macías & Eva Moreno-Bella & Inmaculada Valor-Segura, 2020. "Connecting perceived economic threat and prosocial tendencies: The explanatory role of empathic concern," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-25, May.
    3. Yanina Rashkova & Ludovica Moi & Francesca Cabiddu, 2024. "Addressing the Societal Challenges in Organizations: The Conceptualization of Mindfulness Capability for Social Justice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(2), pages 249-268, January.

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