TRAIT EMPATHY AND CONTINUOUS HELPING - THE CASE OF VOLUNTARISM

There is considerable evidence that trait empathy affects single-episo de helping behavior. However, the influence of empathy on more continu ous altruistic behavior such as voluntarism, has not been investigated . This study utilizes a four-dimensional empathy scale, the Davis Inte rpersonal Reactivity index, to assess the relationship between trait e mpathy and voluntarism. Structural equation analysis results indicate that Perspective Taking, Empathic Concern,, and Personal Distress dime nsions of empathy are positive antecedents of voluntarism as hypothesi zed. The Fantasy dimension was not related to voluntarism.