ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the social side of empathy, by placing empathy in the context of human relationships. It examines different kinds of one to one relationships. The chapter illustrates various influences toward and away from Martin Buber's empathetic ideal of treating the other person as a "Thou" in these relationships. Making space for inter-subjective experiences in ongoing relationships can be challenging though. Balance and complementarity are also key elements of long-term relationships. Empathy toward others can be more difficult to develop in some relationships than others. Many people, for instance, have had the experience of dealing with misbehavior in a child calmly and effectively when babysitting a friend's offspring, but becoming completely irrational when the child is their own. Good behavior is nice in a child one is babysitting, but seems to be more crucial for one's own child and his or her future, so stronger emotions come into play with one's own child.
