Page | 86 Empathy can be defined as our intermediate forms of empathy exist natural capacity to share, appreciate, and between the extremes of mere agitation respond to the affective states of others. at the distress of another and full This capacity is essential for the understanding of their predicaments (3). regulation of social interactions. For Many comparative psychologists view instance, empathy is believed to empathy as a kind of induction process motivate prosocial behavior and inhibit by which emotions, both positive and aggressive behavior (2). In addition, our negative, are shared, and which increase ability to share the emotions of those we the probability that the protagonists will observe binds us to each other and subsequently engage in similar behavior. fosters a collective social identity. Though certain non-human Empathy’s invisible power is that it . . . primates may share feelings between moves us to cooperate, coordinate our alana . . individuals, humans seem to have the behaviors, and provide the needed care . 1 . . « > unique ability to intentionally “feel for for one another. Notably, however, ae . . and act on behalf of other individuals empathic concern does not necessarily : ; : 5 : whose experiences may differ greatly lead to empathic behavior. First, . . . from their own. Such a capacity may empathy poses a paradox, as sharing of h . : . . 4: elp explain why empathic concern is feelings does not necessarily imply that ; : : ‘ ; . often associated with prosocial behaviors one will act or even feel impelled to act : ; . . . . such as helping kin, and why it has been in a supportive or sympathetic way. , . : considered the foundation for altruism, Second, the complexity of the social and , : . oe tae . the expression of empathy and caring for emotional situations eliciting empathic . . . te those who are not kin. Evolutionary concern influences the probability and . : , : biologists have suggested that empathic nature of the help provided.