Influence of phylogenetic proximity on children’s empathy towards other species

Abstract

Empathy is an essential social skill that develops progressively during childhood. Although mainly studied in the context of human intra-specific interactions, it also extends towards other species. Various factors influence the strength of empathy towards other species, including phylogenetic distance. The present study aimed to examine if this parameter also affects children’s empathy towards other species. Three hundred and eight children - aged 5 to 12 years old- were given an empathic choice test on an extended photographic sample of organisms, followed by a scale measuring their empathic tendencies towards human peers. Results highlighted that children’s empathy towards other living beings decreased with phylogenetic distance, and that this trend strengthened as age increased. Interestingly, presence of animals in the household tended to be positively related to children’s empathy towards their peers. Comparison with data collected in previous studies revealed that although the effect of phylogenetic distance was stronger in adults than in children, no difference was observed compared to adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), except for human beings. This research sheds new light on children’s empathy towards other species and provides elements to consider for their sensitization to animal welfare and wildlife protection, as well as new insights on the specific status that animals can have for people with ASD.