Seven Empathy Myths: Correcting Misconceptions About a Complex Construct

ABSTRACT The term empathy has become a buzzword in recent decades, and the concept has received both scholarly attention and has also been the focus of public interest, professional trainings, and policy initiatives. However, misconceptions about its nature persist. Our aim is to rectify these misunderstandings by highlighting claims about empathy that have been empirically refuted. We address seven myths about empathy: #1 People mean the same thing when they say “empathy,” #2 Empathy increases burnout, #3 Empathy cannot be measured, #4 Empathy comes effortlessly, #5 Empathy cannot be learned, #6 More recent generations lack empathy, #7 Women are naturally more empathic. These myths, selected due to their considerable implications, often contain a grain of truth but are usually exaggerated or misapplied, typically by generalizing findings from one narrow empathy definition to all empathy constructs. The term “empathy” is an umbrella term encompassing lower‐order constructs like compassion, personal distress, emotional congruence, perspective taking, and accurate interpersonal perception. We specify for which lower‐order empathy constructs each myth holds, for which constructs it is debunked (based on empirical evidence), and for which lower‐order constructs sufficient or consistent evidence exists to offer a conclusive verdict. We illuminate the complexities involved in discussing and studying empathy while debunking these prevalent misunderstandings. Our goal extends beyond merely refuting these myths; we strive to avert their potentially harmful impact on policies and society.