Verbal Components of Emotional Empathy

Abstract

Various theoretical approaches have been used to define the concept of empathy: psychoanalytical and egopsychological theories, object relations theories and cognitive psychological as well as humanistic views. Attempts have been made to synthesize these approaches. The physiological and kinaesthetic components of empathy have often been neglected, whereas the psychological and social components have been emphasized. Most consider emotional sensitivity and capacity for identification (of the affective components) and role-taking and perspective-taking capacity (of the cognitive aspects) as central components of empathy. 338 adults responded to the 1972 Mehrabian and Epstein scale of emotional empathy. Factor analysis yielded factors of emotional receptiveness, readiness for identification, and sympathy under labile control. Women proved more empathetic on all factors than men. Mehrabian and Epstein's scale appears useful in studying the central components of empathy.