The Measurement of Empathy: A Comment on Watson

Watson's (1983) recent study involving the Indices of Discrimination and Communication as measures of empathy highlighted a number of contentious issues meriting discussion. More particularly, these issues relate to the concept of the notion of “characteristi” empathy. Additionally, the paper totally neglected the literature which has previously assessed the two Indices. The present contention is that the Indices cannot be considered as favourably as initially indicated.