Improving intergroup relations: The effects of empathy on racial attitudes

Prior research indicates that information-based intergroup relations programs are only moderately successful (McGregor, 1993; Stephan & Stephan, 1984). In order to explore a means of increasing the effectiveness of techniques used to change attitudes toward outgroups, the current study examined the effects of giving Angle American students information about everyday incidents of discrimination against African Americans either with or without empathy-inducing instructions. The results indicate that reading about discrimination against African Americans or inducing empathy reduces in-group-out-group bias in attitudes toward African Americans vs. Angle Americans. The implications of these findings for models of the effects of empathy on intergroup relations are discussed.