Charlene feels empathy for children orphaned in the Sudan, and so she develops a charity to help them. Charlene loves the praise she receives for her efforts and takes great pride in the work she does. Charlene's behavioral motivation aligns most closely with the ____.
A) empathy-altruism hypothesis
B) empathy-specific reward hypothesis
C) empathy-specific punishment hypothesis
D) negative state relief hypothesis

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Charlene's motivation aligns with the empathy-specific reward hypothesis because she is motivated by the praise and pride she receives from helping children orphaned in the Sudan. The empathy-altruism hypothesis posits that empathy leads to altruistic behavior, regardless of external rewards or punishments. The empathy-specific punishment hypothesis suggests that empathy may deter behavior that could harm an individual in need. The negative state relief hypothesis proposes that individuals engage in helping behavior to alleviate their own negative emotions rather than for truly altruistic reasons.

Charlene Feels Empathy for Children Orphaned in the Sudan, and So