EMPATHY FOR OTHERS
Goal:
To assess an individual's capacity to understand and share the feelings and thoughts of other individuals. This aligns with the concept of interpersonal empathy. The goal focuses on the internal experience and attempt to understand, rather than necessarily the accuracy of that understanding.
Key Areas for Assessment:
Affective Response/Sharing: Items assessing the experience of mirroring or feeling an affective resonance when observing another's emotional state.
Self-Other Awareness: Questions on distinguishing one's own feelings from those of others.
Perspective-Taking (Individual Level): Assessing the tendency to adopt the psychological viewpoint of another individual. Trying to understand how things look from their perspective.
Emotion Regulation: Items related to managing one's own emotional response when empathising to avoid personal distress.
Empathic Concern: Questions assessing the tendency to experience sympathy and compassion for others, particularly those less fortunate. Caring about what another person is experiencing.
Understanding Others' Mental States: Items about the capacity or attempt to understand the emotional states or thoughts of others. Being aware of or trying to decipher another person's feelings.
Connection to Prosocial Behaviour: Questions or statements linking personal empathy to a motivation to help or benefit others.
Low (10- 26)
Consciously practise perspective-taking by trying to see situations from another point of view.
Try to actively listen when others are sharing their experiences.
Medium (27–38)
Seek opportunities to deepen your understanding by asking open-ended questions (like “How did that make you feel”) rather than making assumptions.
Explore how to translate your understanding of others’ feelings into supportive action where appropriate, focusing on their needs.
Be mindful of the distinction between understanding feelings and needing to feel the same way, or necessarily being accurate in your assessment of their feelings.
High (39–50)
Continue to practice active listening and seeking to understand individual perspectives and needs.
When applying empathy in contexts like the workplace, remember to set boundaries to prevent emotional exhaustion.
Consider how your strong interpersonal empathy might inform your understanding of broader social dynamics.