ABSTRACT
Humans have an incredible capacity to empathize with others, to understand their actions and intentions, and to use this information to coordinate their own behavior with the behavior of these others. When it comes to our loved ones, our family and friends, or our social in-group, we use the full extent of our empathic abilities. We automatically catch their emotions, and the meaning and intentions of their actions, which provide us with an intuitive understanding of their inner states. Thereby, we help them when they are in need, we bond with them, and we can act in unison and close cooperation. With those we hate, our adversaries or competitors, it is different. We still have a need to understand their emotions, actions, and intentions, but for more selfish reasons. Here we use our empathic abilities to anticipate our opponent’s next move and to be prepared. Hence, despite our selfish reasons, we still are receptive to the inner states of our enemies. But what about those toward whom we feel nothing but indifference, the homeless person on the street, maybe the nameless service person, or simply those whom we consider part of a social out-group? Could it be that we do not intuitively catch their intentions, needs, and emotions?