Trait empathy, a relatively stable personality characteristic reflecting the tendency to experience empathic feelings, is commonly measured using self-report questionnaires.
One of the most popular and well-validated tools for measuring trait empathy is the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Here's a breakdown of how it works:
- The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI): Developed by Davis (1983), the IRI is a 28-item questionnaire designed to assess trait empathy across multiple dimensions.
IRI Subscales
The IRI comprises four subscales, each containing seven items, designed to capture different facets of empathy:
| Subscale | Description | Example Item |
|---|---|---|
| Perspective Taking | Measures the tendency to adopt the point of view of others in everyday life. | "I try to look at everybody's side of a disagreement before I make a decision." |
| Fantasy | Assesses the tendency to imaginatively transpose oneself into the feelings and actions of fictional characters. | "When I am reading an interesting story or novel, I imagine how I would feel if the events in the story were really happening to me." |
| Empathetic Concern | Measures feelings of sympathy and concern for unfortunate others. | "I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me." |
| Personal Distress | Assesses feelings of anxiety and unease in response to observing another's suffering. | "In emergency situations, I feel apprehensive and uncomfortable." |
- Scoring: Individuals rate each item on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from "Does not describe me well" to "Describes me very well." Scores for each subscale are calculated by summing the ratings for the corresponding items.
- Interpretation: Higher scores on the Perspective Taking, Fantasy, and Empathetic Concern subscales generally indicate greater trait empathy. A high score on the Personal Distress subscale, however, may reflect a tendency towards emotional reactivity rather than empathy.
