ABSTRACT
Empathy is a construct that has been defined in multiple ways using various criteria (Batson, 2009). Empathy, the affective response that stems from the apprehension or comprehension of another’s emotional state or condition, allows for the understanding of what another person is feeling or would be expected to feel (Eisenberg & Eggum, 2009; Zahn-Waxler & Radke-Yarrow, 1990). The experience of empathy is a powerful interpersonal phenomenon necessary in everyday social interaction. It facilitates parental care of offspring and enables us to live in groups, cooperate, and socialize. It paves the way for the development of morality and motivates prosocial behavior (Decety & Cowell, 2014).
