The bright side of dispositional greed: empathy for pain

Dispositional greed has shaped our evolutionary history and has ramifications for the well-being of those who are exposed to greedy behavior. However, there are enormous individual differences in dispositional greed, and little is known of the potential positive aspects of this heterogeneity. Three studies tested the link between dispositional greed and one potential benefit: empathy for pain. Surprisingly, Study 1 found that individual differences in dispositional greed are positively correlated with empathy for pain. Studies 2 and 3 further found that individual differences in dispositional greed are positively correlated with pain experience and physical pain sensitivity. Importantly, our finding that dispositional greed is associated with empathy for pain is due to the those exhibiting dispositional greed being more sensitive pain experiences. These results shed light on the psychological mechanisms underlying the persistent nature of dispositional greed.

Automated summary

Dispositional greed has played a significant role in our evolutionary history and has impacts on the well-being of individuals exposed to greedy behavior. However, there are substantial individual differences in dispositional greed, and little is known about the potential positive aspects of this variation. Studies have found that dispositional greed is positively associated with empathy for pain and pain experience, revealing the psychological mechanisms underlying its persistent nature.