Empathy Course Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards related to empathy course lectures

Sympathy/Compassion

Emotional response of care/concern for another's suffering

Behavioral Mimicry

Unconscious imitation of another’s nonverbal behavior or posture

Emotional Contagion

Automatic transfer of emotional states between individuals

Cognitive Perspective Taking

Ability to mentally adopt another's point of view

Parochial Empathy

Empathy tends to favor in-group members, worsening bias and division

Kin Selection

Helping family to preserve shared genetic traits

Reciprocal Altruism

Helping others with the expectation of return benefits

Social Rewards

Helping brings praise, status, or approval

Personal Distress

Helping reduces discomfort from witnessing others suffer

Pure Altruism

Helping motivated solely by empathic concern

Bystander Intervention Model

A model that outlines five steps that lead to helping behavior

Pluralistic Ignorance

People often look to others’ reactions in uncertain situations. If no one acts, everyone assumes action isn’t necessary.

Openness

Trait: Creativity, open to ideas

Conscientiousness

Trait: Organized, disciplined

Extraversion

Trait: Outgoing, assertive

Agreeableness

Trait: Compassionate, cooperative

Neuroticism

Trait: Emotionally reactive, anxious

QMEE

Measures emotional empathy (early questionnaire)

IRI (Interpersonal Reactivity Index)

Captures empathy through multiple dimensions (EC, PT, PD, Fantasy)

Empathic Concern (EC)

Sympathy for others in distress

Perspective Taking (PT)

Imagining oneself in others’ shoes

Personal Distress (PD)

Emotional discomfort when others suffer

Fantasy (F)

Identifying with fictional characters

Categorical (Emotions)

Emotions are grouped into distinct basic types (e.g., fear, anger, sadness, joy)

Dimensional (Emotions)

Emotions are defined by their place on scales such as valence (pleasant–unpleasant) and arousal

Nature

Emotions are biologically hardwired and universal across cultures.

Nurture

Emotions are shaped by cultural and social norms; they are learned through context and experience.

Cognitive/Goal-Based

Emotions arise from an individual’s evaluation of a situation based on their goals and intentions.

Fear

Brain System Activated: BIS – Behavioral Inhibition; Behavioral Tendency: Avoidance

Anger

Brain System Activated: BAS – Behavioral Activation; Behavioral Tendency: Approach

Retributive Justice

Primary Goal: To assign blame and administer punishment based on guilt.

Restorative Justice

Primary Goal: To repair harm through dialogue between victim and offender, promoting healing.

Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA)

Emphasizes submission to authorities, order, and tradition.

Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)

Belief in group-based hierarchy; some groups deserve more power/status.

Weaponization of Empathy

Empathy can be used to incite division and moral outrage

Spotlight effect

People respond more to a single victim than statistics

Theory of Mind (ToM)

The ability to understand that others have different perspectives and beliefs.

Emotional Contagion

Reflexive; doesn’t require ToM. One baby crying triggers another.

Attributive Empathy

Requires ToM; understanding another’s emotional or cognitive state.

Transference

client projects emotions onto therapist.

Countertransference

therapist’s own feelings intrude on treatment.

Genuineness

A therapeutic element emphasized by Carl Rogers

Unconditional positive regard

A therapeutic element emphasized by Carl Rogers

Active listening

A therapeutic element emphasized by Carl Rogers

Non-directiveness

A therapeutic element emphasized by Carl Rogers

Empathy Burnout (Compassion Fatigue)

• Emotional exhaustion (EE): Feeling depleted, unable to offer support. • Depersonalization (DP): Detached, impersonal responses. • Decreased personal accomplishment (DPA): “I’m not helping anyone.”

LUDA Model

Listening, Understanding, Deep (with deep), Appreciation

Downregulation in Practice

Cognitive suppression of empathic responses

Active Listening

Key techniques: Be present, Don’t jump to advice, Nonverbal engagement, Use reflective phrases, Ask before advising

The Four Horsemen

Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, Stonewalling

Inexpressive Empathy

You feel for them but don't show it.

Personal Distress (PD)

self-focused anxiety in response to another’s distress (e.g., panic, overwhelm)

Empathic Concern (EC)

Concern for other people