Levels of empathy and absorption in motorcycle riders

Many negative stereotypes exist regarding motorcycle riders; however, there is no clinical literature or professional research to substantiate these beliefs. The current study examined the levels of empathy and absorption in motorcycle riders. Empathy is defined as the ability to share in another person's thoughts, emotions or feelings (Davis, 1980). Absorption is defined as being engrossed in a situation and experiencing emotional and cognitive alterations (Tellegen & Atkinson, 1974). The two surveys used in the study were the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), which measured levels of empathy, and the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS), which measured levels of absorption. Data for the study was collected from 70 motorcycle riders attending the 67th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota during the month of August, 2007. The study hypothesized motorcycle riders would have average to above average empathy scores, and their empathy and absorption scores would correlate directly with the total number of miles they rode per day, per year, and with the total number of years they had been riding. The study also hypothesized motorcycle rider's absorption scores would correlate directly with their empathy scores. The results of the study confirmed motorcycle riders have average empathy scores when compared to the Davis sample on all of the subtests except the Fantasy Scale (FS), in which the participants scored statistically lower. The results indicated a statistically significant negative correlation between the distance the participants rode annually and their endorsement on the personal distress (PD) and fantasy scale (FS). On the Tellegen Absorption Scale the results indicated a statistically significant negative correlation between the number of miles ridden per day and per year and the motorcycle riders overall absorption scores. The results further indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between absorption and empathy.