When Does “Walking in Their Shoes” Increase Empathy? the Difference Between Empathy for Others in Previously Experienced Social and Physical Situations

To investigate the relationship between empathy, past experience, and situation (social or physical), college students completed a series of online assessments. Students who have experienced a break-up report more empathy for a student currently experiencing a breakup, whereas students who experienced a concussion report less empathy for a concussed student.