The Effects of Competition on Empathy and Prosociality

The current research investigated the effects of competition on empathy and
prosociality in two studies. Study 1 aimed to explore associations between competition
and prosociality by asking participants to play a computer puzzle game that was either
high or low on competitiveness, and then to complete measures of empathy, perspective
taking, compassionate love and willingness to sacrifice for a romantic partner. Study 1
found a marginally significant difference across conditions for perspective taking, a
marginally significant gender interaction for perspective taking, and a significant gender
by condition interaction for compassionate love, in support of hypotheses that
competition reduces prosocial responses in men. Study 2 addressed methodological
limitations from Study 1 and examined the effect across a broader range of relationship
contexts, including close friends. Results for Study 2 did not replicate the marginally significant effect for perspective taking seen in Study 1, but found a significant
interaction between gender and condition predicting perspective taking. Significant
findings in line with prior research emerged for dominance and commitment, indicating
that higher dominance and lower commitment were associated with less empathy and
prosociality. Overall, results do not consistently support the hypothesized effect of
competitive situations on prosocial and empathic behavior, although results of
exploratory analyses suggest potential moderated or conditional effects.