In one well-known study on empathy, participants were given the option of (a) leaving the study or (b) switching places with a confederate who was receiving random electrical shocks but was afraid of them (because of a negative childhood experience she had with electricity) . Participants were given these options after having been told that their values and interests were similar to those of the confederate or after having been told that their values and interests were different from those of the confederate. What were the results of this study?

A) Virtually all participants agreed to switch places with the confederate-regardless of the similarity manipulation.
B) Virtually all participants elected to leave the study-regardless of the similarity manipulation.
C) Participants were more likely to switch places with the confederate if they were told that their values and interests were similar to those of the confederate.
D) Participants were more likely to switch places with the confederate if they were told that their values and interests were different from those of the confederate.

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Zybrea Knight · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  Participants were more likely to exhibit empathetic behavior, such as switching places with the confederate, when they believed they shared similar values and interests, highlighting the role of perceived similarity in fostering empathy.

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