Critical Synthesis Package: Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)

Abstract

The IRI measures four different dimensions of dispositional empathy:

The Empathic Concern subscale assesses emotional empathy, or feelings of compassion for others in distress (e.g. “I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me.”) The Perspective Taking subscale assesses cognitive empathy, or the tendency to see the world from others’ viewpoints (e.g. “I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective.”) The Personal Distress subscale assesses self-focused responses to others’ suffering (e.g. “When I see someone who badly needs help in an emergency, I go to pieces.”) The Fantasy subscale assesses empathy for fictional characters (e.g. “I really get involved with the feelings of the characters in a novel.”)