People who endured challenges like divorce or losing a promotion were less likely to show compassion for others in the same situations, according to a study by a team of researchers led by Rachel Ruttan at the Kellogg School of Management. In one study, more than 200 people read a story about an unemployed man who, after struggling to find work, begins selling drugs to make ends meet; those who had experienced unemployment in the past were less compassionate and more judgmental of the man than were people who were currently unemployed or who had never been. The results suggest that people who have endured a difficult experience are particularly likely to penalize those who struggle to cope with a similar ordeal.
Source: It's Harder to Empathize with People If You've Been in Their Shoes
