Empathy, expectations, and situational preferences: Personality influenceson the decision to participate in volunteer helping behaviors

Although considerable evidence indicates that dispositional empathy is asso ciated with the degree of help that observers will offer needy targets, lit tle is known about the effect of empathy on one's initial willingness to en ter situations in which such needy targets might be found. Three studies we re conducted to evaluate two related propositions: (I) that dispositional e mpathy influences such situational preferences, and (2) that this influence is mediated by the expectancies one holds regarding the emotions likely to occur in those situations. Using hypothetical judgments, Study 1 found sup port for both propositions. Study 2, in which participants believed that th eir responses actually committed them to encountering needy targets, provid ed further support for the model, as did Study 3, which examined the experi ences of actual community volunteers. The theoretical and practical implica tions of these findings are discussed.