Empathic arousal is stronger toward those whose fate predicts one’s own.

Evidence

Correlated shared experiences heighten vicarious arousal because they make what happens to others predictive of what might happen to oneself. That is, when individuals are in high spirits, they treat others amiably, which generates positive feelings for those around them. Through correlated experiences, the happiness of others comes to signify positive experiences for oneself. Conversely, when individuals are dejected, ailing, distressed, or angry, the people around them are likely to suffer in one way or another. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 641

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 641
• XREF: connects to: Dependence on others strengthens vicarious emotional arousal