Give me a breakdown of the definition of cognitive empathy and give me an example of each definition.
Cognitive empathy refers to the intellectual ability to understand another person’s perspective, emotions, and thoughts without necessarily feeling them yourself. It involves:
Perspective-Taking – The ability to see a situation from another person’s point of view.
Example: A manager realizes an employee is frustrated because they were passed over for a promotion. Even if the manager doesn’t feel the same frustration, they understand why the employee feels that way.
Emotional Recognition – Identifying and labeling what someone else is feeling.
Example: A friend notices their partner sighing heavily and avoiding eye contact, correctly recognizing that they’re feeling anxious about something.
Theory of Mind – Understanding that others have thoughts, beliefs, and emotions different from your own.
Example: A child understands that their sibling is scared of dogs, even though they themselves love dogs.
Detached Understanding – Grasping someone’s emotions logically without being emotionally affected.
Example: A therapist listens to a client’s traumatic experience and understands their pain but maintains professional detachment to provide effective guidance.
Cognitive empathy is about understanding emotions, while emotional empathy is about sharing those feelings. For instance:
Cognitive empathy: "I see why you're upset."
Emotional empathy: "I feel upset because you're upset."