At our 2017 Research Symposium, Dr. Dan Siegel spoke about five types of empathy that are taught in a Roots of Empathy classroom. Dr. Siegel is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is also the Founding Co-Director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA.
Empathic Resonance - you feel the feelings of another person
Perspective Taking - Seeing the world as another person sees it. what do you think he is seeing. What is his experience?
Cognitive Empathy - (empathic understanding) what does that meaning for the other person.
Empathic Concern - ie compassion. I feel your pain (suffering) and I want to do something to reduce your suffering. I might think about something and carry it out. -empathic imagination, what could I do now to make you feel better. an action oriented form of empathy.
Empathic Joy - I get excited about your success