Pity vs. Empathy: Emotional Responses to Mental Illness and Stigma

• In Event: 30859 - Mental Health in Crisis: From COVID-19 to Combat

Abstract

Stigma surrounding mental illness remains a pervasive societal issue that is shaped, in part, by emotional reactions including pity and empathy. While both emotions are oriented towards others, pity sometimes involves condescension and reinforces hierarchical relationships, whereas empathy fosters understanding and connection. This study examines how different mental health conditions elicit varying levels of pity and empathy and how these emotions mediate behavioral intentions and stigmatizing attitudes. Using a vignette-based experimental design with a nationally representative U.S. sample (N = 5,368), participants read about a character experiencing symptoms of either subclinical distress, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, or schizophrenia who consulted a physician and received a diagnosis, a causal explanation, and a treatment recommendation. The vignettes varied by diagnosis, cause (no cause mentioned, a traumatic event, genetics, or both) and treatment recommendation (none, psychotherapy, or prescribed medications). The data were analyzed with path analysis, and empathy had a stronger effect on reducing social distance and negative stereotypes than did pity. Schizophrenia and substance use disorders elicited less empathy and greater pity, whereas depression evoked greater pity but not empathy. Attributing mental illness to traumatic events elicited more of each emotion, whereas genetic explanations did not significantly affect empathy or pity. Treatment recommendations for psychotherapy or medication increased empathy but not pity. Empathy mediated the relationship between experimental conditions and stigma-related outcomes more consistently than pity, which only influenced social distance. Findings suggest that stigma reduction efforts should prioritize fostering empathy over pity. Emphasizing relatable experiences and uncontrollable causes like trauma can enhance empathic responses, while focusing on genetic explanations may not mitigate stigma. Anti-stigma interventions should balance treatment messaging to avoid resistance and promote understanding. By addressing the emotional underpinnings of stigma, interventions can encourage inclusivity and reduce discrimination against individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses.

Authors

• Marta Elliott, University of Nevada-Reno

• James Michael Ragsdale, University of Nevada-Reno