Nature can suffer, too: behavioral evidence of empathy with ecosystems and its link to pro-environmental attitudes

Background: As global environmental challenges intensify, understanding the psychological factors that foster pro-environmental actions is essential. This study examines whether empathy, traditionally studied in the context of human and animal relationships, can be extended to natural ecosystems, and how this broader empathy relates to pro-environmental attitudes. Methods: We analyzed self-reported empathic responses to distressing images of humans, animals, urban ecosystems, and natural ecosystems, from 122 participants. Participants also completed measures of trait empathy and pro-environmental attitudes. Results: Our findings show that empathy with humans is moderately to strongly correlated with empathy with animals and ecosystems, supporting the extension of empathic processes beyond human targets. Moreover, empathy with animals and natural ecosystems is significantly positively associated with pro-environmental attitudes. Discussion: Overall, our findings provide behavioral evidence that empathy can extend to ecosystems and that empathy toward other-than-human beings may contribute to pro-environmental attitudes. We discuss implications for environmental psychology, as well as methodological considerations for future research and educational interventions.