Empathy investors: Individual differences in motivational strength in empathy regulation

Feeling empathy toward others can be socially beneficial but difficult to achieve. We propose that people who are more strongly motivated to regulate empathy are more likely to invest effort and ultimately succeed in doing so. In three studies (N = 655), we assessed individual differences in motivational strength in empathy regulation, identified its potential antecedents, and assessed its potential outcomes. With respect to potential antecedents, we demonstrate that motivational strength in empathy regulation is linked to the perceived desirability and attainability of increasing empathy (Studies 1–3). With respect to potential outcomes, we demonstrate that motivational strength in empathy regulation is linked to greater effort in increasing empathy, as assessed via self-report (Study 2) and behavioral intentions (Study 3), and to greater self-reported success (Study 2). Such links could not be explained by differences in state and trait empathy or demographics. These findings demonstrate the potential importance of motivational strength for understanding successful emotion regulation.