Do you prefer empathy or self-centeredness? Take a simple test

The word “empathy” comes from the Greek expression “empathy”, which can be translated as suffering. Can we therefore conclude that the empathic person is constantly struggling with pain? Never. However, it cannot be denied that people with this character trait experience various kinds of emotions much more than others.

Take the test - are you empathic?

Want to learn more about the behavior and reactions of empathic people? There is nothing easier. We have prepared a short test that will allow you to dispel doubts and get to know yourself better. You are ready? Then we start.

Where does empathy come from?

Scientists have been looking for sources of empathy for a long time. It is not entirely clear where this character trait came from. Neuroscientists believe that so-called mirror neurons are responsible for generating empathic responses. This is a relatively “new” group of nerve cells (Italian researchers discovered it only in the eighties and nineties of the last century), located in the parietal lobe or lower frontal gyrus of the cerebral cortex. These neurons fire when we observe other people, making it easier for us to interpret behavior in our immediate environment and trigger certain emotions. They are able to reflect (as in a mirror) what we see.

Many experts question the theory of mirror neurons, and also question the very fact of their existence. If these nerve cells do not evoke sympathy, what then? According to experts, this character trait is influenced by two types of factors - biological and environmental. In the first group, we will find issues related to heredity and temperament, and in the second group, parenting and attachment styles formed in early childhood. In the scientific community and public space, there are also voices that empathy is not an innate character trait, but a kind of skill. Understanding empathy in this way arises as a result of cognitive exercises and training.