Abstract
Empathy is understood as a multidimensional construct involving both cognitive and emotional factors for which, traditionally,
gender differences have been reported. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis in Catalog Sel Documents Psychol 10:1–19,
1980) is an instrument made up of four subscales, each measuring a different dimension of the global concept of empathy. Attending
to gender differences, the present study’s objective is twofold. First, it aims to determine, conceptually speaking, whether
or not the model analyzed by this instrument is equivalent for the two sexes. Second, it aims to determine which dimensions
involved in empathy most strongly predict gender differences. The results convey that the proposed model is invariant between
boys and girls, although the dimensions exhibited significant differences of magnitude as a function of sex. Mainly two variables
(Considerate Social Style and Impassiveness) were capable of distinguishing between men and women. Possible reasons for these
results are also discussed.
gender differences have been reported. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis in Catalog Sel Documents Psychol 10:1–19,
1980) is an instrument made up of four subscales, each measuring a different dimension of the global concept of empathy. Attending
to gender differences, the present study’s objective is twofold. First, it aims to determine, conceptually speaking, whether
or not the model analyzed by this instrument is equivalent for the two sexes. Second, it aims to determine which dimensions
involved in empathy most strongly predict gender differences. The results convey that the proposed model is invariant between
boys and girls, although the dimensions exhibited significant differences of magnitude as a function of sex. Mainly two variables
(Considerate Social Style and Impassiveness) were capable of distinguishing between men and women. Possible reasons for these
results are also discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10578-012-0327-9
- Authors
- Francisco Pablo Holgado Tello, Department of Methodology, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, UNED, C/Juan del Rosal, 10 (Ciudad Universitaria), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Begoña Delgado Egido, Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, UNED, C/Juan del Rosal, 10 (Ciudad Universitaria), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Miguel A. Carrasco Ortiz, Department of Personality, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, UNED, C/Juan del Rosal, 10 (Ciudad Universitaria), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- M. V. Del Barrio Gandara, Department of Personality, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, UNED, C/Juan del Rosal, 10 (Ciudad Universitaria), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3327
- Print ISSN 0009-398X