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Empathic concern: Distinguishing between tenderness and sympathy

Abstract  

The present research proposes that empathic concern, as assessed by six items of the ERQ, consists of two separate emotions,
i.e., tenderness and sympathy. To test this assumption, nine studies were conducted among, in total, 1,273 participants. In
these studies participants were presented with a hypothetical scenario of someone in need, after which empathic concern was
assessed. Factor analyses showed that, indeed, the ERQ items that assess empathic concern can be split up in two factors,
that is, one reflecting sympathy and one reflecting tenderness. In addition, in line with previous studies, our research showed
that, in response to a need-situation that reflects current needs, individuals scored higher on the ERQ factor reflecting
sympathy than on the ERQ factor reflecting tenderness. Findings are discussed in terms of the practical and theoretical implications
of distinguishing between sympathy and tenderness.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Category Original Paper
  • Pages 1-6
  • DOI 10.1007/s11031-011-9276-z
  • Authors
    • Lidewij W. Niezink, Department of Social Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
    • Frans W. Siero, Department of Social Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
    • Pieternel Dijkstra, Department of Social Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
    • Abraham P. Buunk, University of Groningen and Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • Dick P. H. Barelds, Department of Organisational Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
    • Journal Motivation and Emotion
    • Online ISSN 1573-6644
    • Print ISSN 0146-7239
Posted in: Journal Article Abstracts on 01/16/2012 | Link to this post on IFP |
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