Context: Grounded in the Jain philosophical doctrine of Anekāntavāda, which embraces multiple perspectives and the interconnected nature of existence, this study investigates the relationship between empathy, altruistic values, and personality traits within an Indian cultural context. By integrating Anekāntavāda with the concepts of Jñāna (awareness of interconnectedness) and Karuṇā (compassion), this research examines how empathic dispositions align with altruistic values, drawing upon C. Daniel Batson’s “Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis.” Methodology: A sample of 580 Indian university students (M = 22.52 ± 4.45 years; 50.17% female) completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Revised Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ-RR), and the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Correlational analyses, along with linear and hierarchical regression models, were employed to assess the relationship between trait empathy and Schwartz’s values, accounting for personality influences. Results: The findings revealed a strong positive association between trait empathy and self-transcendence values, particularly universalism and benevolence, while indicating a negative relationship with power, a self-enhancement value. Hierarchical regression analyses confirmed that empathy uniquely predicts variations in these values, independent of personality traits. Among empathy subcomponents, perspective taking and empathic concern stood out as the key drivers of altruistic value orientations. Conclusion: By empirically validating the Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis within an Indian cultural framework, this study underscores the epistemological relevance of Anekāntavāda, Jñāna, and Karuṇā in shaping self-transcendence values, offering insights into the interplay between Indian philosophical thought and psychological constructs of altruism.
Brahmi et al. (2025) studied this question.
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