Items:

Emotional Empathy Scale

1. It makes me sad to see a lonely stranger in a group.
2. People make too much of the feelings and sensitivity of animals.*
3. I often find public displays of affection annoying.*
4. I am annoyed by unhappy people who are just sorry for themselves.*
5. I become nervous if others around me seem to be nervous.
6. I find it silly for people to cry out of happiness.*
7. I tend to get emotionally involved with a friend's problems.
8. Sometimes the words of a love song can move me deeply.
9. I tend to lose control when I am bringing bad news to people.
10. The people around me have a great influence on my moods.
11. Most foreigners I have met seemed cool and unemotional.*
12. I would rather be a social worker than work in a job training center.
13. I don't get upset just because a friend if acting upset.*
14. I like to watch people open presents.
15. Lonely people are probably unfriendly.*
16. Seeing people cry upsets me.
17. Some songs make me happy.
18. I really get involved with the feelings of the characters in a novel.
19. I get very angry when I see someone being ill-treated.
20. I am able to remain calm even though those around me worry.*
21. When a friend starts to talk about his problems, I try to steer the conversation to something else.*
22. Another's laughter is not catching for me.*
23. Sometimes at the movies I am amused by the amount of crying and sniffling around me.*
24. I am able to make decisions without being influenced by people's feelings.*
25. I cannot continue to feel OK if people around me are depressed.
26. It is hard for me to see how some things upset people so much.*
27. I am very upset when I see an animal in pain.
28. Becoming involved in books or movies is a little silly.*
29. It upsets me to see helpless old people.
30. I become more irritated than sympathetic when I see someone's tears.*
31. I become very involved when I watch a movie.
32. I often find that I can remain cool in spite of the excitement around me.*
33. Little children sometimes cry for no apparent reason.*

Response Options:
9-point Likert scale
1 - Very strong disagreement
4 - Very strong agreement

*Items are reverse scored