Examining the Relationship Between Empathy, Helpfulness, Respect and Fairness: A Path Analysis

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to examine the presence and power of prediction of the relationships among the behaviors of empathy, respect, helpfulness and fairness. in the proposed hypothetical model, three powers of prediction were examined: the power of empathy to predict helpfulness and respect, the power of helpfulness and respect to predict fairness, and finally the power of empathy to predict fairness through respect and helpfulness. A total of 332 fourth-grade elementary school students participated in the study. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. the findings of the study show that the ability to empathize had a large effect on the emergence of the behaviors of helpfulness and respect. However, the effect of the behaviors of helpfulness and respect on fairness was found to be moderate in size. Finally, the indirect effect of empathy on fairness mediated by the behaviors of respect and helpfulness was found to be significant and moderate.