In one well-known study on empathy, participants had to watch a confederate receive 10 full trials of electric shocks. They were told that their values and interests were similar to those of the confederate, or that their values and interests were different from those of the confederate. After the first two trials had been conducted, participants were then either given no escape (had to watch the full 10 trials) or easy escape (allowed to leave and not watch the full 10 trials). After the first two trials, participants were asked whether they would switch places with the confederate, as she was apparently very upset by the shocks due to a negative childhood experience with electricity. The researchers found that ____ agreed to switch places.
A) virtually everyone in the similar group (regardless of escape level) and half of the people in the dissimilar/no escape group
B) most of the people in the similar group (regardless of escape level) but almost none of the people in the dissimilar/no escape group
C) virtually everyone in the similar/no escape group and virtually everyone in the dissimilar/easy escape group
D) virtually no one in the similar group/no escape and virtually no one in the dissimilar/easy escape group

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Participants who felt similar to the confederate were more likely to empathize and agree to switch places, regardless of the escape condition. In the dissimilar group with no escape, about half agreed to switch due to the lack of an easy way out.

In One Well-Known Study on Empathy, Participants Had to Watch