The role of processing foregrounding in empathic reactions in literary reading

Giulia Scapin; Cristina Loi; Frank Hakemulder; Katalin Bálint; Elly Konijn

doi:10.1080/0163853X.2023.2198813

The role of processing foregrounding in empathic reactions in literary reading

Giulia Scapin^*
, Cristina Loi
, Frank Hakemulder
, Katalin Bálint
, Elly Konijn

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

A considerable body of research has examined the age-old assertion that reading literature enhances empathy, however, mixed results have been found. The present study attempts to clarify such disparities, investigating the role of foregrounding in possible differences in readers’ processing of literary texts and its connection with readers’ empathic reactions. We asked participants (N = 78) to mark parts of the text they considered as “foregrounding” (i.e., deviating from “normal” discourse), and we analyzed how they processed these stylistic aspects. Participants’ open responses to one of two selected texts were categorized as either Shallow, Failed, Partial, or Full Processing of Foregrounding. Full processing was associated with higher Comprehensive State Empathy Scale scores than Failed Processing. Stylistic analysis of word combinations that participants marked as “striking” suggests that, rather than stylistic devices per se, readers’ depth of processing may enhance state empathy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	273-293
Number of pages	21
Journal	Discourse Processes
Volume	60
Issue number	4-5
Early online date	1 May 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/0163853X.2023.2198813
Publication status	Published - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Funding

This work was supported by the European Union\u2019s H2020 Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie Actions Research and Innovation Program No 860516. This work was supported by the VU Amsterdam, the Utrecht University, and the ELIT Network. We thank: all the participants for their precious contribution; Amir Harash for his input on his framework and the present adaptation; Jonathan Cohen for his valuable feedback in the designing process of this study; Kirren Chana for her precious proofreading.

Funders	Funder number
European Union’s H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research and Innovation Program
VU AMSTERDAM
Universiteit Utrecht
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme	860516

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abstract = "A considerable body of research has examined the age-old assertion that reading literature enhances empathy, however, mixed results have been found. The present study attempts to clarify such disparities, investigating the role of foregrounding in possible differences in readers{\textquoteright} processing of literary texts and its connection with readers{\textquoteright} empathic reactions. We asked participants (N = 78) to mark parts of the text they considered as “foregrounding” (i.e., deviating from “normal” discourse), and we analyzed how they processed these stylistic aspects. Participants{\textquoteright} open responses to one of two selected texts were categorized as either Shallow, Failed, Partial, or Full Processing of Foregrounding. Full processing was associated with higher Comprehensive State Empathy Scale scores than Failed Processing. Stylistic analysis of word combinations that participants marked as “striking” suggests that, rather than stylistic devices per se, readers{\textquoteright} depth of processing may enhance state empathy.",

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The role of processing foregrounding in empathic reactions in literary reading

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Bibliographical note

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