IVE BEEN THERE, TOO - EFFECT ON EMPATHY OF PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH A NEED

Two studies tested the prediction that having had prior experience wit h a need increases empathy for another person currently experiencing t hat need. In Study I, subjects reported their feelings of empathy afte r observing a same-sec: peer endure mild but uncomfortable electric sh ocks. Compared with those given no prior experience with the shocks, w omen who had prepared to receive the shocks themselves reported more e mpathy, whereas men who had prepared reported less. In Study 2, subjec ts reported their feelings of empathy after reading a transcript in wh ich a same-sec: adolescent described an upsetting life experience. Wom en who had had a similar experience during adolescence reported more e mpathy than women who had not; men who had had a similar experience re ported no more empathy than men who had not. Across both studies, then prior experience with the need increased empathy among women but not among men.