empatia

Empatia is the capacity to understand and share the feelings of another person. It involves recognizing another's emotional state and, in many definitions, resonating with it. The term comes from the Greek empatheia, meaning “in feeling,” and has entered common usage in many languages as a counterpart to sympathy.

Empathy is commonly described as having two main components: cognitive empathy, the ability to understand another's perspective and mental state; and affective (or emotional) empathy, the capacity to share or resonate with another's emotions. A broader view includes empathic concern or compassionate empathy, which is motivation to help.

Development and neuroscience: Empathy begins in early childhood and is shaped by attachment, social learning, and cultural norms. Neurobiologically, it involves networks such as the mirror neuron system, the anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex, and brain regions supporting perspective taking in the temporoparietal junction.

Measurement and limitations: Empathy is assessed with self-report scales (e.g., Empathy Quotient, Interpersonal Reivity Index) and behavioral tasks, but results can be biased by social desirability and cultural factors. Excessive empathy can lead to burnout; some contexts require boundaries to prevent emotional over-involvement.

Applications and social relevance: Empathy enhances communication, conflict resolution, and social bonding; it is valued in education, healthcare, and leadership. It is not universal or infallible; misunderstandings can occur, and empathy may be constrained by cognitive load, bias, or moral judgment.