ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the operation of empathy-related processes and outcomes within the particular domain of social relationships. It examines empathy's impact on a variety of behaviors which all occur within the particular context of the formation and maintenance of relationships with other people. The chapter addresses that some helping and aggression occurs within the context of ongoing social relationships, and as a result some evidence reviewed earlier. It considers the evidence for associations between social relationship variables and a variety of empathy-related dispositions, processes, and outcomes. The chapter also examines the evidence concerning the four classes of social behavior: global evaluation, conflict, good communication, and considerate social style. It considers associations between dispositional empathy and specific classes of social behavior. The tendency to have fewer conflicts with others, and to resolve conflicts more quickly or harmoniously, is another feature of social life thought to result from high levels of dispositional empathy, especially perspective taking.
