Geographic variation in empathy: A state-level analysis

•Examined associations between state-level empathy, prosocial behavior, and antisocial behavior.•Participants were 79,563 U.S. residential adults across the entire 50 states.•All indices of empathy were linked to lower rates of violent crime, assault, and robbery.•Total empathy was associated with higher well-being and higher volunteer rates.

Empathy is often studied at the individual level, but little is known about variation in empathy across geographic regions and how this variation is associated with important regional-level outcomes. The present study examined associations between state-level empathy, prosocial behavior, and antisocial behavior in the United States. Participants were 79,563 U.S. residential adults who completed measures of cognitive and emotional empathy (i.e., perspective taking and empathic concern). Information on prosocial and antisocial behavior was retrieved from publicly available government databases. All indices of empathy were related to lower rates of violent crime, aggravated assault, and robbery. Total empathy was associated with higher well-being and higher volunteer rates. Implications for geographic variation in empathy, prosocial behavior, and antisocial behavior are discussed.