Beyond Good Intentions: Cognitive and Affective Empathy’s Divergent Effects on Political Animosity

• In Event: Prosocial Dispositions and Behaviors

Brief Overview

This study shows that cognitive empathy can reduce hostility toward political opponents, while affective empathy may deepen polarization by reinforcing in-group favoritism.

Authors

• Thomas Bergeron, University of Toronto

• Thomas Galipeau, University of Toronto