UC Santa Barbara

The effectiveness of an empathy-based intervention, Harnessing Empathy Results in Opportunities for Everyday Success (HEROES), was evaluated using a randomized waitlist control design with follow-up interview questions. HEROES consists of evidence-informed activities, including feelings identification, role-playing, the use of induction and distancing to consider alternative perspectives, management of personal distress through mindfulness, and gratitude. Results showed statistically significant increases in affective empathy with a large effect size. There was also a large effect size seen for increased cognitive empathy and a medium effect size for increased positive school experiences. HEROES did not exacerbate aggressive behaviors or participants’ experiences of anger. Further, no changes in prosocial behaviors were seen. Results of this study support the viability of interventions that target underlying positive psychosocial constructs.