Abstract:

The moral value of in-group biases of empathy has been a topic of debate among researchers. Some studies from Western cultures have found that equal empathy has the most moral value. However, the moral cognition of individuals is closely related to the culture in which they live. To examine whether participants’ moral cognition of equitable empathy is consistent between Chinese and Western cultures, this study used a story context task, recruited participants in Chinese culture, and compared the data with those from Western cultures. Results found that culture had an effect on the moral cognition of equitable empathy. Specifically, participants in Western cultures perceived equal empathy for both a close and a distant individual as the most moral, while participants in Chinese cultures perceived both empathy but stronger empathy for those who are close to them as the most moral. The findings provide a new perspective on the development of moral care in contemporary Chinese youth.

Key words: empathy, morality, equality, in-group bias, cross-cultural