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Empathy is a complex foundational aspect of human interaction, rooted in both biology and psychology. It involves the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. 

However, it is not that simple. Practicing empathy includes understanding its various types that contribute to emotional and social intelligence. Here are the main types of empathy and their role in social interactions.

Affective empathy

Affective empathy, often referred to as emotional empathy, is the ability to feel what others are feeling. This type of empathy activates the same neural circuits in the observer's brain that are active in the person they are empathizing with. Mirror neurons play a crucial role in affective empathy, allowing individuals to mimic and understand the emotions of others on a visceral level.

Cognitive empathy

Cognitive empathy, sometimes termed perspective-taking, centers on understanding another person's thoughts and feelings from a rational standpoint. People who practice cognitive empathy can understand another person's possible response to a situation. 

In a small study, researchers found that people involved in the exact sciences showed higher levels of cognitive empathy compared to those involved in health sciences, who exhibited higher levels of affective empathy.

Somatic empathy

Somatic empathy involves a deep connection to the physical sensations experienced by another person. Individuals with strong somatic empathy may react physically to what another person is experiencing. For example, a person exhibits somatic empathy when they start to blush at the sight of someone else being embarrassed.

Compassionate empathy

Compassionate empathy combines both understanding and a genuine desire to help others. This type of empathy motivates individuals to take positive action to alleviate the suffering of others. Compassionate empathy involves a delicate balance between the emotional and cognitive aspects of empathy.