Previous research indicates that sympathy for victims is related to how much they are suffering. Yet, it is unclear whether greater suffering alone leads to more compassionate reactions to victims or whether reactions to victims are moderated by other factors such as the duration of the suffering or the perceived frequency of the occurrence that causes suffering. Using Kelley’s (Neb Symp Motiv 15:192–238, 1967) covariation model as our theoretical framework, our study tested whether severity and number of misfortunes affected reactions to a target claiming to be a victim. Participants evaluated a target after viewing one of the four video interviews. The videos manipulated the severity and number of misfortunes claimed by a victim. More misfortunes generated more helping intentions. Severe misfortunes generated stronger empathic reactions to victims, whereas minor misfortunes generated stronger negative appraisals of victims. However, number of misfortunes moderated this effect: The most negative reactions were elicited by claims of many minor misfortunes and the most positive reactions by claims of many severe misfortunes. Additionally, participants were more likely endorse helping intentions in response to claims of many severe misfortunes than claims of many minor misfortunes. These results provide insight into factors influencing whether people are taken seriously as victims.

中文翻译：

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严重程度和不幸的次数对受害者反应的影响

先前的研究表明，对受害者的同情与他们遭受的痛苦有关。然而，尚不清楚仅是更大的痛苦会导致对受害者的更富有同情心的反应，还是对受害者的反应是否受到其他因素的影响，例如痛苦的持续时间或导致痛苦的发生频率。使用凯利（Neb Symp Motiv 15：192–238，1967）的协变量模型作为我们的理论框架，我们的研究测试了不幸的严重性和数量是否影响了对声称是受害者的目标的反应。参加者在观看了四个视频采访之一后评估了目标。这些视频操纵了受害者声称的不幸的严重程度和数量。更多的不幸产生了更多的帮助意图。严重的不幸对受害者产生了更强烈的移情反应，而轻微的不幸对受害者产生了更强烈的负面评价。但是，不幸的数量减轻了这种影响：最负面的反应是由许多次要的不幸事件引起的，而最积极的反应是由许多严重的不幸事件引起的。另外，与许多次要不幸的说法相比，参与者更有可能认可帮助意图以应对许多严重的不幸。这些结果提供了影响人们是否被当做受害者的因素的见解。发生许多次要不幸的事件引起了最负面的反应，发生了许多次严重不幸的事件引起了最积极的反应。另外，与许多次要不幸的说法相比，参与者更有可能认可帮助意图以应对许多严重的不幸。这些结果提供了影响人们是否被当做受害者的因素的见解。发生许多次要不幸的事件引起了最负面的反应，发生了许多次严重不幸的事件引起了最积极的反应。另外，与许多次要不幸的说法相比，参与者更有可能认可帮助意图以应对许多严重的不幸。这些结果提供了影响人们是否被当做受害者的因素的见解。