Reactions to suffering of others under conditions of indirect responsibility.

Abstract

PRESENTED AS A STUDY OF PAIRED-ASSOCIATE LEARNING TO 66 FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES WHO PARTICIPATED IN PAIRS. EACH S, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE IN A CONTROL CONDITION, WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT HER PARTNER WAS TO RECEIVE A STRONG ELECTRICAL SHOCK AND THAT S WOULD BE IN A MORE DESIRABLE CONDITION (CONTROL OR MONEY). WHEN S PERCEIVED THAT THE OTHER PERSON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER OWN SUFFERING, SUBSEQUENT DESCRIPTIONS OF THE OTHER PERSON WERE RELATIVELY OBJECTIVE. WHEN S PERCEIVED HERSELF AS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OTHER PERSON'S FATE, SHE TENDED TO DEVALUE HER. WHEN THE OTHER PERSON WAS PERCEIVED AS RESPONSIBLE BOTH FOR HER OWN SUFFERING AND FOR S'S DESIRABLE FATE, THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE OTHER PERSON WAS ENHANCED. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)