Attachment and prejudice: The mediating role of empathy

In two studies, we examined the novel hypothesis that empathy is a mechanism throughwhich the relationship between attachment patterns and prejudice can be explained.Study 1 examined primed attachment security (vs. neutral prime), empathy, and prejudicetowards immigrants. Study 2 examined primed attachment patterns (secure, avoidant,anxious), empathy subscales (perspective taking, empathic concern, personal distress),and prejudice towards Muslims. Across both studies, empathy mediated the relationshipbetween primed attachment security and low prejudice levels. The findings suggest thatenhancing felt security and empathic skills in individuals high in attachment–avoidance maylead to reduced prejudice