Assistant Prof. Martingano’s research reveals an app that can boost empathy in teens

Assistant Prof. Alison Jane Martingano has recently published on the Random App of Kindness (RAKi) – an innovative app designed to nurture empathy in adolescents. Unlike typical gaming apps, RAKi incorporates empathy-building tasks through mini-games. Users might identify emotions, soothe a crying baby, or view life from another’s perspective – effectively exercising their ’empathy muscles’. Assistant Prof. Martingano’s study of 106 adolescents found that RAKi users reported feeling kinder and less accepting of aggression, and were seen as more empathetic in social interactions compared to those using a control app. While RAKi is not an overnight solution, it’s a promising step towards a more empathetic future.