# Better Person, Better Society: A Different Perspective on the Association Between Instrumental Religiosity, Interpersonal Empathy and Social Justice Values

## TL;DR

This study explores how religiosity and empathy relate to social justice values, showing how they can help create a more compassionate society.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel framework using motivated information processing theory to link religiosity, empathy, and social justice values.

## Key findings

- Personal instrumental religiosity positively influences both instrumental and social terminal values of social justice.
- Social interaction and cognitive behavior mediate the relationship between personal religiosity and social justice values.
- Social instrumental religiosity only affects the instrumental values of social justice directly.

## Abstract

Religiosity and empathy have been identified as two key variables that may significantly influence an individual’s social justice attitude and behavior. Despite their significance, studies addressing the relationships between these variables are rare. Thus, the present study aims to explore the associations between interpersonal empathy, instrumental religiosity, and social justice values using the conceptual framework of motivated information processing theory. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the hypothetical relationships between these variables. The findings indicate that personal instrumental religiosity, social interaction, and cognitive behavior are positively associated with the level of adherence to both instrumental and social terminal values of social justice. In contrast, social instrumental religiosity exerts only a direct influence on the instrumental values of social justice. This study also revealed the role of social interaction and cognitive behavior as mediators between personal instrumental religiosity and the instrumental and social terminal values of social justice. The findings underscore the imperative for researchers to devise educational programs that acknowledge and promote the significance of religion and empathy in fostering a more equitable and compassionate society.