How Seven Different “Empathies” Correlate With Personality

Abstract: Self-report measures of empathy capture several distinct facets of the empathy concept. What does this mean for how different “empathies” are correlated with personality? To find out, we measured six empirically derived facets of self-reported empathy in a data-driven approach, plus self-reported global empathy, along with 25 personality variables ( N = 351). The analysis consisted of first correlating each of these seven empathy facets with all of the personality variables, yielding a vector of personality correlates for each empathy facet. Next, we created profile correlations by correlating these vectors of correlates between the empathy facets to show similarities and differences in terms of their pattern of personality correlates. Some of the empathy facets had extremely similar profiles of personality correlates, while others stood apart. These findings indicate that the personality profile of an empathic person depends on the specific facet of empathy that is employed.