4 Empathies Test

The IDRlabs What Kind of Empath Are You? (IDR-WKEY) was developed by IDRlabs. The IDR-WKEY is based on the work of Dr. Darrick Jolliffe and Dr. David P. Farrington, who developed the Basic Empathy Scale (BES). The IDR-WKEY is not associated with any specific researchers in the field of personality psychology or any affiliated research institutions.

The test measures types of empathy such as the following: Cognitive Empathy: Cognitive empaths use their intellect and reason to infer what others are going through. Cognitive empathy can thus be described as knowing, comprehending, or grasping others intellectually. Cognitive empaths are usually very good communicators, as they are frequently able to lay out their understanding in a clear and logical manner, and since their empathy is reasoned as opposed to intuited or felt, many cognitive empaths are also very good at remaining open to other people's points of view and the larger context of what they are experiencing.

Intuitive Empathy: Intuitive empaths have unusually keen perceptions that seem to come out of nowhere, as if by uncanny, unexplained intuitions or a sixth sense. While some believe that extrasensory perception or paranormal psychic ability is at the root of such phenomena, others maintain that intuitive empaths simply have an unusually active subconscious that provides them with deep intuitions or hunches about others without even trying.

Physical Empathy: Physical empaths are attuned to other people's physical symptoms or expressions. They are inclined to understand information through touch and through observing the bodies and physical properties of others. Physical empaths are sometimes described as “clairkinestetic” (meaning clearness of touch). They are able to take in unusual amounts of information by interacting tangibly with others.

The IDRlabs What Kind of Empath Are You Test was informed by the tool: Basic Empathy Scale regarding the criteria and concepts on empathy, as published in Jolliffe, D. & Farrington, D. (2006). Development and validation of the basic empathy scale. Journal of Adolescence. D’Ambrosio, F., Olivier, M., Didon, D., & Besche, C. (2009). The basic empathy scale: A French validation of a measure of empathy in youth. Personality and Individual Differences, 46(2), 160 165.  Geng, Y., Xia, D., & Qin, B. (2012). The Basic Empathy Scale: A Chinese validation of a measure of empathy in adolescents. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 43(4), 499-510.

The work of Dr. Jolliffe, Dr. Farrington, and his colleagues have also informed some of the diagnostic criteria for clinical use, especially by qualified mental health professionals. The present test is intended for educational purposes only. IDRlabs and the present IDRlabs What Kind of Empath Are You? test is independent of the above researchers, organizations, or their affiliated institutions.

The IDRlabs What Kind of Empathy Are You? test is based on a famous and well-regarded inventory for the assessment of the clinical concept of empathy. However, free online tests and quizzes such as this one solely first take and cannot provide accurate assessments of your potential condition. Hence, the test is intended to be used for educational purposes only. A definitive mental health assessment can be made only by a qualified mental health professional.

As the publishers of this free online empathy test, which allows you to screen yourself for the characteristics of this trait, we have strived to make the test as reliable and valid as possible by subjecting this test to statistical controls and validation. However, free online quizzes such as the present What Kind of Empath Are You test do not provide professional assessments or recommendations of any kind; the test is provided entirely “as-is.” For more information about any of our online tests and quizzes, please consult our Terms of Service.