Prosocial behavior amid violence: The deservingness heuristic and solidarity with victims

Abstract Incidents of state repression and criminal violence trigger disparate public responses: Some cases elicit widespread citizen solidarity with victims while others do not. What explains these different reactions? Public debates surrounding civilian victimization vary in the extent to which they present as deserving help, often engaging victim‐blaming narratives. I argue that through use attributional evidence, individuals primarily determine their level support for based on whether or not are deemed assistance, instead focusing alternative information such similarity victims' demographic characteristics perpetrator's identity. test this argument using various forms including experimental, observational survey, qualitative data from Mexico's War Drugs—one most significant contemporary human rights crises has nonetheless triggered only sporadic solidarity. Consistent argument, results show narratives characterizing people responsible misfortune reduce prosocial behavior by eroding compassion perceptions social norms—whether helping is socially acceptable. In contrast, citizens more likely aid perceived have little control over situation. These findings suggest elite media discourses crucially shape responses violence.