Altruism born of suffering among emerging adults in Northern Ireland
Taylor, Laura K. and Hanna, Jeffrey R. (2018) Altruism born of suffering among emerging adults in Northern Ireland. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 10 (3). pp. 157-169. ISSN 1759-6599 (https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-01-2017-0271)
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Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore altruism born of suffering (ABS), a theory that explains how the experience of suffering within one’s own life may result in the motivation to help others, even outgroup members. Design/methodology/approach Participants were 186 emerging adults (63 per cent female, 37 per cent male; 69 per cent Protestant, 41 per cent Catholic; average age =21.3, SD=2.57 years old) in Northern Ireland, a setting of protracted intergroup conflict. Participants were randomly assigned to an in/outgroup condition, read four types of adversity that occurred to same-sex victim(s), and indicated their empathetic response and how much they would like to help the victims. Findings Moderated mediation analyses revealed that empathy for the victim partially mediated the impact of perceived harm on desire to help; moreover, recent negative life events strengthened the link between harm and empathy. The path between empathy and helping was stronger in the outgroup compared to the ingroup condition. Practical implications These findings support ABS, highlighting empathy as a key factor underlying more constructive intergroup relations in a divided society. Originality/value This paper extends previous research on ABS by focusing on a post-accord context. The value of the current analyses demonstrate the important role of fostering empathy to promote outgroup helping in settings of divisive group identities.
ORCID iDs
Taylor, Laura K. and Hanna, Jeffrey R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8218-5939;-
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Item type: Article ID code: 77026 Dates: DateEvent15 May 2018Published31 July 2017Published Online1 April 2017AcceptedNotes: © 2018 Emerald Publishing Limited Subjects: Social Sciences Department: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > Social Work and Social Policy > Social Work and Social Policy Depositing user: Pure Administrator Date deposited: 08 Jul 2021 13:53 Last modified: 27 Sep 2024 01:21 URI: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/77026