The Effect of Empathy Norms on Behavior

Believing empathy is a skill that can be developed rather than a fixed trait leads to greater effort and success in understanding others, according to research by Jameel Zaki and Carol Dweck. They found that when people were given an essay stating either that empathy is a fixed trait or a skill that can be learned, those who read the latter were more willing to put effort into empathizing, even when dealing with difficult situations like different political beliefs or racial backgrounds. The study therefore highlights the importance of recognizing our ability to grow and improve our empathy.