Perspective-taking Research Articles

Empathy Through Immersion: The Impact of 360-Degree Virtual Reality on Fostering Perspective-Taking and Sense of Oneness in the Embodiment of a Sexual Harassment Victim.

Sexual harassment (SH) against women is one of the most worldwide problems. To mitigate its incidence, various programs, including virtual reality (VR), have been developed for both prevention and treatment. 360-degree video has emerged as a subfield of VR capable of inducing the body swap illusion and facilitating perspective-taking (PT), as well as eliciting related emotions. The present study represents a progression from a previously published work, featuring a within-subjects design approach that showed the superiority of the immersive video to elicit empathy compared to a control condition. The aim is to investigate and validate the feasibility of using 360-degree video to foster empathy, PT, and a sense of oneness, potentially reducing violent attitudes toward a female victim of SH compared with a traditional PT task (control condition) in a between-subjects design. Forty Mexican men were randomly assigned to one of the conditions. Results confirmed the feasibility of the 360-degree video in significantly enhancing PT and a sense of oneness compared with the control condition. However, no significant changes were observed for the variables of empathy and violent attitude. Moreover, the findings supported the potential of the 360-degree video in eliciting a sense of ownership and presence with the virtual character and the immersive environment, with ownership showing a positive correlation with empathy and PT. Lastly, participant body awareness was found to be a positive predictor of ownership. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

How does dispositional mindfulness foster prosocial behavior? A cross-cultural study of empathy's mediating role and cultural moderation.

Despite growing recognition of dispositional mindfulness (DM) in psychological research, its cross-cultural mechanisms in promoting prosocial behavior remain unclear, particularly regarding the mediating role of different empathy dimensions. This study investigated how DM influences prosocial behavior across cultural contexts, examining both the mediating effects of different empathy dimensions and the moderating role of cultural background in Chinese and Indonesian samples. Participants included 683 university students (357 Chinese, 326 Indonesian) who completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Self-Report Altruism Scale Distinguished by the Recipient (SRAS-DR). Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS macro. Chinese participants demonstrated higher DM levels than Indonesian participants. In the Chinese sample, both perspective taking (PT) and empathic concern (EC) mediated DM's effects on prosocial behavior toward family (PBF), friends (PBFr), and strangers (PBS). However, in the Indonesian sample, PT and EC only mediated effects on PBFr. Cultural background significantly moderated DM's indirect effect on PBS through PT, with stronger effects in the Chinese sample. Fantasy and personal distress showed no significant mediating effects in either cultural context. This study reveals that DM enhances prosocial behavior through selective influence on different empathy dimensions, with cultural background moderating specific pathways. These findings extend our understanding of mindfulness's cross-cultural mechanisms and provide practical implications for culturally-adapted mindfulness interventions.

DETERMINING THE ROLE OF SPATIAL ABILITY IN PERFORMING LUNAR PHASE CHANGE TASK USING BRAIN ACTIVITY ANALYSIS

Many students have difficulty understanding the concept of lunar phase changes (LPCs) due to spatial ability problems such as perspective-taking (PT) and mental rotation (MR). Therefore, this study aimed to compare brain activity during PT and MR tasks while performing the LPC task to determine the involvement of PT and MR. This study measured brain waves using EEG in 20 participants while solving the 3 tasks. First, the power values in the theta band of all cortical areas showed a significant difference between MR and LPC tasks. Second, in the strategy execution section with a statistically significant difference, the occipital lobe and limbic system were mainly active during the PT task, whereas the frontal lobe was mainly active during the LPC task. Third, for strategy execution, during MR and LPC tasks, the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and limbic system were all activated to significantly different degrees. Therefore, both PT and MR, particularly PT, are required to solve the LPC task. Moreover, for students who have difficulty learning LPC, it is necessary to recognize the need for spatial ability, such as PT ability, and establish an appropriate teaching strategy. Keywords: brain activation, electroencephalography, lunar phase change, mental rotation, perspective-taking

Unfolding the empathic insights and tendencies among medical students of two gulf institutions using interpersonal reactivity index

BackgroundEmpathy is an essential core competency for future doctors. Unfortunately, the medical curriculum is infamously known to burn out aspiring doctors, which may potentially lead to a decline in empathy among medical students. This research was planned to understand the evolution of empathic approaches among students across the curriculum using the Interpersonal reactivity index (IRI) as a benchmark at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI-MUB) and University of Sharjah (UoS).MethodsWe adopted a cross-sectional design and administered an online survey to the medical students of RCSI-MUB and UoS using a modified version of the IRI along with its three subscales of empathic concern (EC), perspective taking (PT), and personal distress (PD). To identify intra- and inter-institutional variations in empathy scores, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed separately for each institution and with both institutions combined. A two-way ANOVA was conducted for the comparison between years and institutions. For the subscale analysis of EC, PT, and PD, we used one-way ANOVA for significant differences between years at both institutions. For the gender-effect analysis, t-test was performed to examine the differences in total IRI scores at both institutions combined and at each institution separately. Additionally, an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was done to identify the influence of gender on empathy scores.ResultsA total of 140 students from both institutions participated in this study. We found a fluctuating pattern of empathy scores without a clear trend across the years. The sub-scales of EC, PD, and PT across academic years at both institutions showed significant differences within the EC at RCSI-MUB (p = 0.003). No significant differences were identified across other years from both institutions. There were significant differences between empathy scores from RCSI-MUB and UoS for EC (p = 0.011). Additionally, a pronounced interaction effect between year and institution was observed for PT (p = 0.032). The gender-wise analysis showed that female students had higher empathy scores than males (p = 0.004). The ANCOVA for IRI score results revealed a p-value of 0.023, indicating that gender plays a crucial role in empathy levels among medical students. The ANCOVA results revealed a p-value of 0.022 in the EC subscale.ConclusionOur study unveiled intricate patterns in empathy development among medical students across years and genders at RCSI-MUB and UoS. These congruences and dissimilarities in empathy scores signal a subjective understanding of empathy by medical students. The disparities in understanding may encourage medical educators to embed empathy in standard medical curricula for better healthcare outcomes.

The Negative Effect of Siblings on Perspective-Taking in Adulthood under Chinese Culture.

Evidence from Western developed countries has consistently found that children with sibling(s) showed better perspective-taking (PT) than only children. However, this was not the case in developing countries like China. Our study investigates whether the potentially hindering effect of having sibling(s) on PT persists into adulthood within the context of contemporary Chinese culture. We employed self-report questionnaires to measure PT, perceived parental care, and sibling relationships among Chinese young adults (21.93 ± 2.35 years old). Our findings indicate that in China, (1) having sibling(s) hinders individuals' PT in adulthood, (2) a potential mechanism for this effect is that having sibling(s) leads individuals to perceive less parental care during early life, and (3) for those with sibling(s), higher sibling intimacy can enhance PT, particularly among older sister-younger brother pairs. These results suggest that in developing countries such as China, while sibling(s) may diminish PT to some extent, factors like parental care and sibling intimacy can serve as protective factors that mitigate the negative impacts of sibling(s) on PT.

The Impact of Perspective Taking Training in Student Teachers on Unintended Empathy Components

Empathy training focuses mainly on improving perspective taking (PT) skills, but rarely considers possible changes in other, affective empathy components. In this study, we aimed to examine for unintended changes in the other empathy components emotional concern, personal distress, and fantasy, some of which were not specifically intended. We used a trait (Saarbrücken Personality Questionnaire for Measuring Empathy) and a state (Jefferson Scale for Empathy - Teacher Version) questionnaire respectively. On the trait measures, only the PT score improved, as it was intended by the training. No significant change in the affective factors occurred. Thus, the training showed no undesirable side effects. Looking at the Jefferson Scale factors related to pedagogical situations, significant changes occurred in the areas of perspective taking, emotional understanding of students, pedagogy more important than empathy, and student-centeredness. Since these are only pedagogically relevant changes in attitudes, this is consistent with the goal of the empathy training. Unwanted side effects were not observed here either.

Association of Vedic Personality Traits and Empathy among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Medical students are expected to provide compassionate and empathic care to their patients. Empathy is a crucial component of the doctor-patient relationship. The Triguna theory is a fundamental concept in Hindu philosophy that describes three inherent qualities of nature: Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Each individual has a unique combination of these qualities, which shapes their personality and behaviour. However, the relationship between Triguna personality and empathy in medical students has not been explored in depth. Aim: To examine the association between Triguna personality and empathy in medical students. Materials and Methods: The present study was a crosssectional questionnaire-based survey conducted among firstphase medical undergraduates in the Department of Physiology, Rama Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India from July 2024 to August 2024. A total of 122 medical students participated in the study. The Vedic Personality Inventory (VPI) was used for assessing personality, and the Brief form of Interpersonal Reactivity Index (B-IRI) was used for assessing empathy. Correlational analysis and an unpaired student’s t-test were performed. Results: There were 122 subjects; the proportion of male and female students was 52 (42.6%) and 70 (57.4%), respectively. The mean± Standard Deviation (SD) age was 20.43±1.23 years. Sattva score was positively correlated with Perspective-taking (PT) (r=0.193, p<0.05) and negatively correlated with Personal Distress (PD) scores (r=-0.322, p<0.01). Tamas scores were positively correlated with Fantasy (FT) (r=0.251, p<0.01) and PD scores (r=0.401, p<0.01). Female participants demonstrated significantly higher mean scores as compared to males in Empathic Concern (EC) (16.9±2.681 vs. 14.730±2.951), PT (15.442±2.618 vs. 14.038±2.779), and PD (13.552±2.776 vs. 12.288±3.291) in the present study. There was no significant difference in Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas scores between males and females. Conclusion: The study explores the association between the VPI traits, such as Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, and empathy measures. Sattva shows a positive correlation with Perspective Taking (PT) and a negative correlation with PD, indicating that individuals with higher Sattva scores are likely to exhibit better social competence and emotional stability. Additionally, gender differences were observed in empathy scores, with females scoring higher than males in PT, EC, and PD, emphasising the relevance of considering personality traits in medical education to foster empathic skills among healthcare professionals.

Empathy Trends in American Youth Between 1979 and 2018: An Update

Previous research has found declining dispositional empathy among American youth from 1979 to 2009. We update these trends until 2018, using three datasets. Study 1 presents a cross-temporal meta-analysis of undergraduates’ empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index), finding significant cubic trends over time: perspective taking (PT) and empathic concern (EC) both increased since 2009. Study 2 conceptually replicated these findings using nationally representative datasets, also showing increasing PT (Study 2a: American Freshman Survey) and EC (Study 2b: Monitoring the Future Survey) since 2009. We include economic, interpersonal, and worldview covariates to test for potential explanations, finding evidence that empathy trends may be related to recent changes in interpersonal dynamics.

Foreign Language Learning Enhances Cognitive flexibility, which Facilitates Reported Perspective-taking: Evidence from PISA 2018

Multilingual speakers have often been found to be superior in taking another person’s perspective. Also, females are commonly found to have enhanced perspective-taking (PT) abilities compared with males, with male PT being generally more easily affected by external factors. Research on bilingual advantages has been widely verified in children, adults, and the elderly. However, few researchers have paid attention to the bilingual advantages and perspective-taking in adolescents. Perspective-taking skills are often associated with positive behaviors such as prosocial behavior and understanding others. In this study, we used a large and representative sample derived from the 2018 PISA survey to examine the relationship between bilingual experience, perspective-taking, and cognitive flexibility. The moderating effect of cultural individualism was also analyzed. The results of multi-level structural equation modeling (MSEM) indicate that: (1) foreign language learning is positively associated with perspective-taking and cognitive flexibility after controlling for individual-level and country-level demographic variables; (2) cognitive flexibility mediated the association between foreign language learning and perspective-taking; (3) the moderating effect of cultural individualism is significant. Specifically, in collectivist (vs. individualist) countries/societies, there is a stronger association between foreign language learning and perspective-taking.

Perspective taking and public acceptance of nuclear energy: Mediation of trust in government and moderation of cultural values

Given the increasing severity of global climate change, many countries such as China adopt nuclear energy as a priority strategy in energy policy because of its advantages of low carbon emissions and high electricity generation efficiency. However, public acceptance of nuclear energy (PANE) is a key factor that the government should to consider in making nuclear energy policy. Hence, understanding how to improve PANE is important. Based on the motivated information processing theory, this study explored the influence of perspective taking (PT) on PANE via competence-based and integrity-based trust in government, along with the moderating effects of power distance and uncertainty avoidance. The findings, based on 1,052 valid Chinese samples collected by an online questionnaire survey, indicated that PT was positively related to PANE. Competence-based and integrity-based trust in government mediated the effect of PT on PANE. Moreover, the results demonstrated power distance strengthens whereas uncertainty avoidance weakens the positive effect of PT on competence-based and integrity-based trust in government. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications for understanding the formation of PANE from perspective of public motivational factor related to information processing (i.e., PT), trust in government, and culture values.

Investigating the role of bilingualism and gender on theory of mind using mouse-tracking and self-report

Aims and Objectives: Although there exists empirical support for the idea that bilingualism is associated with improved social cognition, the presence and the structure of this link remains inconclusive. There is currently a need to clarify the specific contexts in which these benefits may tend to emerge. Methodology: We sought to advance the field of bilingualism by examining the link between bilingualism and a specific form of social cognition, theory of mind. We measured theory of mind processing in a sample of adult bilinguals and monolinguals and measured patterns of decision-making using several different methods; task performance (accuracy and reaction time), implicit decision-making patterns (mouse-tracking), and self-report. We collected mouse-tracking data during two different tasks (false belief and cognitive–affective theory of mind) and self-report was measured using the perspective-taking (PT) subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Data and Analysis: For each behavioral task, we compared reaction time, accuracy, and both mouse-tracking metrics between language groups. For self-report, we compared PT scores between language groups. We also tested for interactive effects of gender and language group on each dependent variable. Findings: Across all participants, bilingualism was not associated with any statistically significant improvements in theory of mind. However, we did observe that gender interacted with language group to affect maximal deviation values (mouse-tracking) during the false belief task and self-reported PT scores. Bilingualism tended to confer some improvements in self-reported theory of mind (PT subscale of IRI) in men, but not women. Originality: It is currently unknown if bilingualism is associated with improved theory of mind processing when measured using several different types of tasks and using mouse-tracking. Significance/Implications: These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence elucidating the complex relationship that exists between multiple language acquisition and social cognition.

Avoiding affect in intergroup relations: The roles of dispositional and intergroup empathy in the relationship between alexithymia and prejudice

AbstractAlexithymia, that is, difficulties in recognizing, communicating, and processing one's own emotions, is associated with poorer interpersonal relations. Emotional processes are key drivers and mechanisms of prejudice and its reduction, and alexithymia is thought to influence individuals' empathic responses. This research examined the relationship between alexithymia and prejudice, and the role of empathy in this relationship. Three studies were conducted in three intergroup contexts to test whether alexithymia is also associated with poorer intergroup relations with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender+ individuals (Study 1, N = 126 heterosexual late adolescents) and Asian British people (Study 3, N = 300 White adults) in the United Kingdom, and immigrants in Italy (Study 2, N = 381 Italian adults). Participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐20), measures on dispositional and intergroup empathic concern (EC) and perspective taking (PT) as well as measures of prejudice (anti‐outgroup hostility, anti‐outgroup attitudes, and anti‐outgroup behavioral intentions). Lower dispositional EC (Studies 1, marginal effect in Study 2) and intergroup EC and PT (Study 3) mediated the relationship between the Externally Oriented Thinking subscale of the TAS‐20 (i.e., avoiding emotions and affective thinking) and greater prejudice. The findings are important for understanding the challenges of late adolescents and adults with alexithymia in intergroup relations, highlighting the role of dispositional and intergroup empathy for individual differences such as alexithymia in endorsing prejudice.

Measuring perspective taking with the “Virtual Class” videogame: A child development study

Perspective taking (PT) is a cognitive ability that enables people to imagine how an object or a scene appears from a perspective different from their current physical viewpoint. This is a fundamental ability, especially for navigating in the visual spatial environment or receiving information from a different perspective. Behavioral and imaging studies on PT have suggested that a significant change in PT ability occurs between middle/late childhood and the first stages of adolescence. Here, we assessed PT through a video game (“Virtual Class”) using a sample of 83 typically developing children between the ages of 6 and 12 years. The results showed that PT improved over time, with a significant acceleration in improvements around the age of 8.5 years. We concluded that some children showed a significant improvement in PT starting during middle childhood, but this improvement can occur later in others, explaining discrepancies among earlier studies.

Pilot Studies on Empathy and Closeness in Mutual Entrainment/Improvisation vs. Formalised Dance with Different Types of Rhythm (Regular, Irregular, and No Rhythm) and Coupling (Visual, Haptic, Full Coupling): Building a Case for the Origin of Dance in Mutual Entrainment Empathic Interactions in the Mother-Infant Dyad.

This paper employs a novel research design to examine changes in empathy and closeness in partnered face-to-face dance, considering both different types of rhythm (regular, irregular, and no external rhythm, or 'mutual entrainment only') and different types of coupling (visual only, haptic only, and full visual and haptic coupling). Two studies were undertaken to pilot the design. In both studies, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and Inclusion of Other in the Self were used to measure empathy and closeness, respectively. Study 1 employed 24 participants (12 pairs) distributed across two rhythm conditions, external regular rhythm, and no external rhythm, with full coupling in both conditions. Closeness increased similarly in both conditions. Empathic concern (EC) was significantly affected in the 'no rhythm' condition. Study 2 employed 54 participants assigned to form pairs and distributed across all combinations of rhythm and coupling types. Closeness decreased with irregular rhythm. EC increased in the 'no rhythm' conditions relative to regular rhythm. Fantasy (F) decreased with haptic coupling only (no visual coupling) while personal distress (PD) increased. In addition, the analyses suggest that perspective taking (PT) increases with irregular rhythm and in the condition without rhythm (mutual entrainment only). The discussion gauges the value of the designs and results for capturing changes in empathy and closeness with different rhythm and coupling types. Capturing such changes is important for research on the origins of dance in empathic mutual entrainment in the mother-infant dyad.

Self-assessment of empathy uncovers defective self-awareness in mild cognitive impairment.

Self-assessment scales are broadly used to evaluate empathy in neurological patients, but it is conceivable that some discrepancy with caregiver evaluation may emerge as consequence of reduced self-awareness. The aim of the present study was to verify the presence of discrepancies in the self-assessment of empathy in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to explore their neural correlates. Twenty MCI patients and 38 healthy controls (HCs) underwent the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), exploring the following four aspects of empathy: perspective taking (PT), fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress. The questionnaire was administered in two modalities: self-administered, and administered to an informant, and the scores were compared. The correlation between discrepancies and regional cortical thickness was assessed. The self-administered version of IRI showed higher PT scores in MCI as compared to HC (p = .017), with no differences detected in the other subscales. The difference between the scores obtained in the self-administered and in the informant-administered IRI-PT was significantly higher in MCI than in HCs (p = .006). The self-assessment of empathy in subjects with MCI may be misleading because of a tendency toward an overestimation of the PT ability, typically considered as a cognitive component of empathy. Our results may reflect a particular aspect of reduced self-awareness in MCI subjects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Moral reasoning behind the veil of ignorance: An investigation into perspective-taking accessibility in the context of autonomous vehicles.

Perspective-taking (PT) accessibility has been recognized as an important factor in affecting moral reasoning, also playing a non-trivial role in moral investigation towards autonomous vehicles (AVs). A new proposal to deepen this effect leverages the principles of the veil of ignorance (VOI), as a moral reasoning device aimed to control self-interested decisions by limiting the access to specific perspectives and to potentially biased information. Throughout two studies, we deepen the role of VOI reasoning in the moral perception of AVs, disclosing personal and contingent information progressively throughout the experiment. With the use of the moral trilemma paradigm, two different VOI conditions were operationalized, inspired by the Original Position theory by John Rawls and the Equiprobability Model by John Harsanyi. Evidence suggests a significant role of VOI reasoning in affecting moral reasoning, which seems not independent from the order in which information is revealed. Coherently, a detrimental effect of self-involvement on utilitarian behaviours was detected. These results highlight the importance of considering PT accessibility and self-involvement when investigating moral attitudes towards AVs, since it can help the intelligibility of general concerns and hesitations towards this new technology.

Measuring Spatial Abilities in Children: A Comparison of Mental-Rotation and Perspective-Taking Tasks.

Mental rotation (MR) and perspective taking (PT) are important spatial abilities and predictive of performance in other cognitive domains. Yet, age-appropriate measures to assess these spatial abilities in children are still rare. This study examined psychometric properties of four MR tasks in 6- to 9-year-olds (N = 96). Two were developed specifically for children and two were based on established assessments for adults; one of each was a computerized and one was a paper-pencil task. Furthermore, spatial perspective taking (PT)-a different but closely related ability-was assessed to determine discriminant validity. Factor analyses showed that all MR tasks loaded on one single factor, with PT only loading weakly on the same factor, suggesting high construct validity. The computerized task for adults showed moderate factor loadings, constituted its own (but correlated) factor when a two-factor solution was forced, and showed the lowest reliabilities, suggesting that it was very difficult for children. On average, the new MR tasks had good to excellent reliabilities, differentiated well between age groups, and proved to be well-suited to assess MR in this age range. The PT task also showed good reliability and a steep developmental progression. Relations to verbal skills, gaming experience, and TV consumption are discussed.

Relationships between Affect Recognition, Empathy, Alexithymia, and Co-Occurring Conditions in Autism.

Prior studies show differences in empathy and affect-recognition ability between those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals. Autistic individuals also exhibit increased behavioral, gastrointestinal, and sleep issues. In the current study, we explored the differences in empathy and affect recognition between the ASD and TD groups; and we investigated their associations with conditions co-occurring in ASD. A total of 54 TD and 56 ASD children (8-17 years) were included. As compared to the TD group, the ASD group showed lower scores for affect recognition and perspective taking (PT) and higher scores for personal distress (PD). Interestingly, results from hierarchical linear regressions suggested that disparities in the PD and PT between the groups were primarily attributable to attenuated levels of alexithymia, rather than being mediated by the presence of an autism diagnosis. Differences in affect-recognition ability, however, were mediated by both an autism diagnosis and alexithymia. We also found significant correlations between empathy and affect recognition and measures of related conditions common in ASD. Alexithymia, hence, contributes to difficulties in empathy while both alexithymia and autism are associated with affect-recognition ability in ASD. Additionally, the association between affect recognition and empathic ability with co-occurring conditions in ASD needs to be considered during assessments and interventions.

Children's social network size is related to their perspective-taking skills

Perspective-taking (PT) is an important skill children develop within the first few years of life; however, little is known about how children's social environments relate to PT development. During early childhood, children's social networks undergo dramatic growth. Prior work with adults has shown that network size is related to PT skill, which raises the question of whether and how children's social networks may relate to their emerging PT skills. This question is particularly interesting given that children's social worlds undergo dramatic growth and changes, which is a sharp contrast from adults that have stable social network sizes. The present study measured the social networks of 3-year-old children (n = 36; 15 female; 68% White) and found that children in larger social networks demonstrated stronger PT skills, particularly on the more difficult trials on the task. These results indicate the size of children's social networks relates to their PT ability.

Dementia Simulation Impact on Empathy of Nursing and Physical Therapy Students: A Quantitative Study

BackgroundAs the population ages, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) increases. Health care students participated in a simulated dementia experience to increase their understanding of the lived reality of people diagnosed with ADRD. A foundation for therapeutic relationships is understanding which incorporates empathy. Health care professionals possessing empathy have demonstrated improved patient satisfaction. MethodsThis quantitative study used Kolb's experiential learning theory as a foundation for assessing empathy of health care students using a pre- postsurvey design. Health care students included 248 baccalaureate nursing students and doctor of physical therapy students. Empathy was measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, perspective taking (PT), and empathic concerns (EC) subscales. ResultsThis study found a statistically significant increase in overall empathy postsimulation measured by the combined PT and EC subscales. The PT subscale also had a statistically significant increase indicating that students increased in the cognitive dimension of empathy post simulated dementia experience. There was no statistically significant change in the EC subscale or affective dimension of empathy post experience. ConclusionsThe immersive simulation experience increased the cognitive dimension of empathy in nursing and physical therapy students.