The Effects of Stereotypes About Animals’ Competence and Warmth on Empathy Choice

The present preregistered research examined whether animal stereotypes predict choosing to empathize with them. In two studies (ns = 173 and 202), participants chose between taking an empathic or objective perspective with 48 animals representing 16 different species, classified into four groups representing perceived competence and warmth. While less likely to choose an empathic than an objective perspective for all animal groups, empathy choice was stronger for those stereotyped as high-competent (vs. low-competent, Study 1 and 2) and high-warmth (vs. low-warmth, Study 2 only) species. Variation in cognitive difficulty of being empathic (vs. objective) helped explain empathy choice preferences derived from stereotypes about animals, most robustly stereotypes about an animal’s competence (Studies 1 and 2). Suggesting its importance, empathy choice was positively associated with the amount participants were willing to donate toward each animal’s welfare (Study 2).