| This thesis is an attempt to explore the unidimensional/multicomponent nature of empathy within three domains, each domain referring to a specific target within a limited set of circumstances. Perspective taking and emotional empathy items were developed in reference to animals used in research, unacquainted other's welfare (Humanitarian Empathy), and interpersonal relationships (Affiliative Empathy). Factor analysis showed perspective taking items and emotional empathy items within each domain tended to load on one of three factors, suggesting a unidimensional/multicomponent nature of empathy. Structural equations models were also employed to compare a multidimensional view of empathy to the unidimensional/multidomain view of empathy. Both models failed to adequately account for the variance contained within a third model where six latent factors, one for each of the perspective taking and emotional empathy clusters of items within each domain, were allowed to covary. However, comparison of the Chi Square and a fit index suggested the unidimensional/multidomain view of empathy to be superior to that of the multidimensional view using these data. Additional structural equations models suggested all these domains contain a commonality assumed to reflect global empathy, and that the specificity of each domain of empathy is similar to a selected value or belief. More specifically, a value of human welfare related to Humanitarian Empathy, a value of intimacy/friendship related to Affiliative Empathy, and a belief that animal research is important in promoting human welfare was negatively related to the Empathy Towards Research Animals domain of empathy. Several additional analyses consisted of validating the new empathy items, as well as employing an alternative method of value measurement in assessing the relationship between various values and the three domains of empathy. |
