Colella, Alessandra (2025) Fostering ethnocultural empathy in childhood: assessment, intervention, and moral reasoning in multicultural contexts. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

In the context of increasingly multicultural societies, fostering ethnocultural empathy in children is critical to promoting inclusive attitudes and reducing intergroup bias. This dissertation explores how empathy toward culturally diverse others develops in childhood and how it can be assessed and enhanced through targeted interventions. Using a multi-method and multi-informant approach, three empirical studies are presented. Study I focuses on the adaptation and validation of a child-appropriate version of the Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy. Study II evaluates the effectiveness of a digital serious game, JOINclusion, in enhancing empathy and prosocial behavior in multicultural school settings. Study III investigates children's moral reasoning and behavioral responses to ethnic-based inequalities, differentiating between individual and structural disparities. The findings highlight the developmental emergence of nuanced moral reasoning, the role of empathy in shaping intergroup attitudes, and the potential of technology-based tools to foster social inclusion. Collectively, the research contributes to developmental science by offering novel insights and practical tools for cultivating ethnocultural empathy and equity-oriented thinking in childhood.

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