The effect of infant-like characteristics on empathic concernfor adults in need

摘要

Three experiments tested the hypothesis thatempathic concern for adults in need is enhanced by thedegree of target infant-like characteristics. Participantsreported feeling more empathic concern for an adult targetwith a more infant-like face than for an adult with a moreadult-like face in a Spanish sample (Experiment 1) and inan American sample (Experiment 2). A similar effect wasfound when participants were presented with either anadult with a more infant-like voice or an adult with a moreadult-like voice in a second American sample (Experi-ment 3). Additional analyses suggest that the infant-likecharacteristic effect on empathic concern is not mediatedby observer perceptions of target attractiveness, target ageor youthfulness, target vulnerability, or observer similarityto the target. These results support the proposition thatinfant-like cues enhance empathic concern in humanobservers and that the phenomenon generalizes acrossstimulus modality, gender, and nationality.