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What Is Empathy? A Definition of Empathy

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Updated April 30, 2010

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Definition: The ability to understand another person’s circumstances, point of view, thoughts, and feelings. When experiencing empathy, you are able to understand someone else’s internal experiences.

Some psychiatric disorders, including autism, antisocial personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder, have been associated with a lack of ability to empathize (or experience empathy).

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