Empathy and hypnotic susceptibility in volunteers versus non-volunteers

This study examined the relationship between participants who had had the opportunity to volunteer versus those individuals who had not had the opportunity to volunteer and Hypnotic Susceptibility and Empathy as a result of volunteer work in a non-clinical community-based sample of male and female volunteers. It was hypothesized that individuals who participate in volunteer work tend to be more empathetic and thus have a higher hypnotic susceptibility. This study compared individuals who have had the opportunity to participate in and experience volunteer work versus those individuals who have not participated in or experienced volunteer work. Ninety individuals affiliated with several volunteer organizations participated in the survey. Participants completed a questionnaire with demographic data including eight scaled questions and two open ended questions. Participants also completed the Davis Interpersonal Reactivity Index a measure of empathy and the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility as well as the Tellegen Absorption Scale Survey (TAS) a measure of absorption Although results showed no statistically significant differences on the overall Davis measure between mean scores of volunteers and non-volunteers there was a significant difference between both groups on the subscale of empathic concern suggesting volunteers scored higher on this subscale. Overall scores on the IRI confirm the hypothesis of a positive significant relationship for volunteers between empathy and hypnotic susceptibility (r=0.36 p<0.05). In the TAS, the total absorption was associated with Fantasy (FE) and Perspective taking (PT) versus Emphatic Concern (EC) and Personal Distress (PD). However non-volunteers also showed a positive significant relationship between empathy and hypnotic susceptibility (x=0.46 p<0.01). Therefore, this study showed no overall significant differences in empathy and hypnotic susceptibility amongst both groups of volunteers and non-volunteers.