Einolf Christopher J
Department of Sociology, University of Richmond, Weinstein Hall, Richmond, VA 23173, USA.
Soc Sci Res. 2008 Dec;37(4):1267-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2007.06.003.
This study uses survey data to test the correlation between empathic concern and 14 different prosocial behaviors, including informal help to individuals and formal helping through institutions. Statistically significant correlations were found for 10 behaviors, but substantively meaningful correlations were only found for three, all of which were spontaneous, informal helping behaviors, where the individual needing help was directly present. The findings indicate that empathic concern may not be an important motivator for planned helping decisions and decisions to help others who are not immediately present, such as volunteering, charitable giving, and blood donation. The weak correlation between empathic concern and most helping behaviors indicates that individual differences in empathic concern may not play much a role in helping decisions.
本研究使用调查数据来检验共情关注与14种不同亲社会行为之间的相关性，这些亲社会行为包括对个人的非正式帮助以及通过机构进行的正式帮助。研究发现，10种行为存在统计学上的显著相关性，但只有3种行为存在实质性的有意义相关性，且这3种行为均为自发的、非正式的帮助行为，即需要帮助的个体直接在场的情况。研究结果表明，共情关注可能不是计划型帮助决策以及帮助不在场他人（如志愿服务、慈善捐赠和献血）决策的重要动机。共情关注与大多数帮助行为之间的弱相关性表明，共情关注的个体差异在帮助决策中可能不起太大作用。
