Abstract

MENDEZ, Roque V. et al. Construct Validation of Mexican Empathy Scale Yields a Unique Mexican Factor. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2011, vol.1, n.3, pp.381-400. ISSN 2007-4719.

An empathy scale developed in Mexico (Diaz-Loving, Andrade -Palos & Nadelsticher-Mitrani, 1986) was translated and validated in a U.S. sample. The Mexican and Davis' Interpersonal Reactivity Scales shared conceptually similar constructs. However, there were differences. In particular, a unique Mexican factor, Empatía Cognoscitiva and which we called Prescience had not been identified in empathy scales. It appeared to measure empathic accuracy, an individual's purported knowledge of others' feelings and moods. In a second study, we tested individuals' sensitivity in detecting subtle changes in emotional expressions, and found that individuals who scored highly in this characteristic were not necessarily more accurate at detecting emotions, but took significantly more time to look at fearful and angry faces. The results of a third study suggest that this was not due to enhanced attentional capture by negative emotional faces. In a final study, we found that purported accuracy was based on self-presentational concerns. Validation of this factor provides a clearer understanding of its cognitive and motivational properties and future uses.

Keywords : Empathy; Scale; Empathic accuracy; Self-monitoring; Cultural differences.