Michigan State
University
A first-of-its-kind
study that ranks nations by empathy puts the United States at No. 7, behind
countries ranging from Peru to Korea to Saudi Arabia.
While a top 10 finish
isn't bad, Michigan State University's William Chopik, lead author of the
study, notes that the psychological states of Americans have been changing in
recent decades -- leading to a larger focus on the individual and less on
others.
"These changes might ultimately cause us to leave our close relationships behind," said Chopik, assistant professor of psychology. "People are struggling more than ever to form meaningful close relationships. So, sure, the United States is seventh on the list, but we could see that position rise or fall depending on how our society changes in the next 20-50 years."
The researchers
analyzed the data from an online survey on empathy completed by more than
104,000 people from around the world. The survey measured people's compassion
for others and their tendency to imagine others' point of view. Countries with
small sample sizes were excluded (including most nations in Africa). All told,
63 countries were ranked in the study.
Ecuador was the most
empathetic country, followed in order by Saudi Arabia, Peru, Denmark, United
Arab Emirates, Korea, the United States, Taiwan, Costa Rica and Kuwait.
Chopik said he was
surprised that three countries from the Middle East -- Saudi Arabia, UAE and
Kuwait -- ranked so highly in empathy considering the long history of
aggression and wars with other countries in the region. That could be because
the study did not distinguish between feeling empathy toward people in other
countries vs. people in one's own country.
The least empathetic
country was Lithuania. In fact, seven of the 10 least empathetic countries were
in Eastern Europe.
The study, published
online today in the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, was
co-authored by Ed O'Brien of the University of Chicago and Sara Konrath of
Indiana University.
Konrath and O'Brien in
2011 published research suggesting that American college students had become
less empathetic over a 20-year span. Potential factors included the explosion
of social media; increases in violence and bullying; changing parenting and
family practices; and increasing expectations of success.
The latest study is the
first to look at empathy on a country-by-country level. And while it "only
grabbed a snapshot of what empathy looks like at this very moment," Chopik
noted that cultures are constantly changing.
"This is
particularly true of the United States, which has experienced really large
changes in things like parenting practices and values," Chopik said.
"People may portray the United States as this empathetic and generous
giant, but that might be changing."