Empathy

A friend shares with you that they just failed a math test; you usually do well at math. Are you able to see how difficult this situation might be?

• yes

• no

If someone trips going up the stairs, do you feel embarrassed for them and avoid laughing?

• yes

• no

Your mom says she is overwhelmed with work and all of the things that need to get done around the house. You also have a lot of things going on and not enough time. Do you brush off what she is feeling because you have a full plate as well?

• yes

• no

A friend is upset because their boyfriend/girlfriend broke up with them after a week of dating. Do you tell them it is okay because it wasn’t a long relationship?

• yes

• no

uYour cousin just put their dog down to sleep. You recently lost a pet you had for more than 10 year. It is too hard to talk to them about it because of the pain you felt?

• yes

• no

uA fellow classmate of yours recently lost their father to cancer. This individual is one of your group members for a project. They don’t speak much to the other group members and they can sometimes come across as uninterested. Do you give them the benefit of the doubt and assume their behavior is due to tough stuff going on in their life?

• yes

• no

A friend says, “I rear-ended someone yesterday while driving.” Do you say something like “One time my brother rear-ended someone and totaled his car.”

• yes

• no

uYour teacher shares that they have a lot of papers to grade and don’t have yours done yet, do you think to yourself, “They better grade mine soon, they had the entire night and weekend to grade it.”

• yes

• no

A classmate shares with you that their mom just lost their job so they can’t go to the prom, do you say “That must be really hard, I’m so sorry”?

• yes

• no