Using performance art to promote intergroup prosociality by cultivating the belief that empathy is unlimited

Intergroup conflicts are often characterized by a lack of empathy towards outgroup members, leading to negative social outcomes. This research explores the hypothesis that this limited outgroup empathy stems partly from the belief that empathy is a finite resource. The study proposes a novel intervention combining psychology and art to cultivate the belief in unlimited empathy, aiming to improve intergroup relations. The researchers posit that believing empathy is limited leads to selective and sparing use of empathy, often prioritizing the ingroup. Conversely, believing empathy is unlimited encourages generous and indiscriminate empathy. While the objective limitation of empathy is debated, the subjective belief plays a crucial role. This study aims to test this hypothesis across various intergroup contexts, utilizing a combination of traditional experimental designs and a unique approach integrating psychological experiments into performance art.

The literature review discusses the multifaceted nature of empathy, encompassing cognitive empathy (perspective-taking) and affective empathy (sharing feelings). It highlights the existing research on the intergroup empathy bias, where empathy is often limited to ingroup members. The researchers also reference resource depletion theory, which suggests that self-regulation resources are limited. However, they contrast this with studies demonstrating that self-regulation can be enhanced by motivation. The concept of subjective beliefs about resource capacity is introduced, emphasizing the behavioral implications of believing in limited versus unlimited resources. Existing research on empathy suggests its potential limitation due to cognitive and mental resource depletion and the possibility of empathy fatigue. The study builds upon these ideas, hypothesizing that the belief in limited empathy leads to an ingroup bias, while the belief in unlimited empathy promotes outgroup empathy and prosociality. The study highlights the importance of testing interventions in real-world settings beyond the laboratory, advocating for the use of performance art as a method to achieve high ecological validity.

The study comprises six studies with a total of 2118 participants. A pilot study examined the association between the belief in unlimited empathy and empathy levels towards ingroup and outgroup members in a sample of Israeli teenagers from three social groups (Secular Jews, Religious Jews, and Arabs). Study 1 investigated the relationship between the belief in unlimited empathy and empathy towards political ingroup and outgroup members (liberals and conservatives) in a US sample. Study 2 tested the causal effect of manipulating the belief in unlimited empathy on empathy towards Syrian refugees in a US sample. Study 3 examined the causal effect of manipulating the belief in unlimited empathy on empathy and prosocial support towards both ingroup and outgroup members (Jewish and Arab Israelis). Studies 4 and 5 utilized a novel approach, integrating psychological experiments into performance art. Study 4 replicated Study 2’s findings in a more realistic setting, using performance art in Chicago involving US citizens and Syrian refugees. Study 5, conducted in Jerusalem, examined the effect of the manipulation on empathy and behavior in face-to-face intergroup interactions between Jewish and Arab Israelis. Across these studies, various measures were used to assess empathy, prosocial behaviors, and beliefs about empathy. Statistical analyses included correlation coefficients, ANOVAs, and mediation analysis.

The pilot study showed a positive correlation between the belief in unlimited empathy and empathy towards both ingroup and outgroup members. Study 1 revealed a significant interaction between target condition (ingroup vs. outgroup) and belief in empathy, indicating that those who believed empathy was more limited showed a stronger ingroup bias. Study 2 demonstrated that promoting the belief in unlimited empathy increased empathy towards Syrian refugees. Study 3 showed that promoting this belief led to greater outgroup empathy and support for prosocial actions towards the outgroup, without affecting ingroup empathy, thus attenuating the intergroup empathy bias. Studies 4 and 5, utilizing the performance art intervention, replicated the findings of Studies 2 and 3 in more realistic settings. Study 4 showed that the manipulation increased empathy towards Syrian refugees among US participants. Study 5 showed that the manipulation attenuated the intergroup empathy bias among Jewish Israelis towards Arab Israelis, resulting in increased empathy and more empathic behavior (e.g., hugging). The results consistently showed that manipulating belief in unlimited empathy increased empathy and prosocial behavior towards outgroup members across different intergroup contexts.

The findings support the hypothesis that the belief in unlimited empathy plays a crucial role in reducing intergroup bias. The belief in limited empathy appears to foster a zero-sum mindset, leading to a prioritization of ingroup empathy. The belief in unlimited empathy challenges this mindset, enabling greater empathy towards outgroups without perceived costs to ingroup empathy. This study provides a novel mechanism for understanding intergroup empathy bias, distinct from other explanations focusing on situational factors or empathy malleability. The study highlights the effectiveness of the intervention, especially its context-independent nature, making it applicable across various intergroup situations. The use of performance art provides a unique and engaging platform for delivering the intervention message and promoting social change.

This research demonstrates that cultivating the belief in unlimited empathy effectively reduces intergroup bias and promotes prosocial behavior towards outgroup members. The findings have significant theoretical and practical implications, suggesting a new approach to improving intergroup relations. Future research should explore the long-term effects of the intervention, its effectiveness with different age groups, and its application in more natural settings. The study's innovative use of performance art as an intervention method opens new avenues for research and social change.

While the study employed a large sample size and diverse intergroup contexts, several limitations exist. The study's reliance on self-reported measures of empathy might be susceptible to biases. The performance art settings, while enhancing ecological validity, might not fully represent spontaneous intergroup interactions. The short-term nature of the intervention necessitates further investigation into long-term effects. Additionally, the specific cultural contexts of the studies warrant further exploration to determine the generalizability of the findings across different cultures.