Abstract
Validity and reliability of a empathy and identification with characters scale. This paper discuss the results of an experimental research about the validity and reliability of a self-report scale that measures the empathy and identification with characters of audiovisual fictional stories (EDI scale). This scale, that was composed of 17 items, had a satisfactory internal consistency, structural, discriminat and concurrent validity. Affective empathy was a very important dimension to define this construct. Moreover, the experimental manipulation of the exposition to filmic segments (with positive and negative valence) induced a different level of identification with characters depending on the type of instruction given to the subjetcs (identification versus distant observation). Finally, the emotional experience provoked by the exposition to the filmic segments was significantly associated with the degree of identification with the characters.
