12 signs of a truly empathetic person, according to psychology

Empathy is a word that gets bandied about a lot these days.

We hear about the importance of being empathetic in leadership roles, with our children, and when considering the plight of others. 

But what exactly constitutes an empathetic person? 

Having empathy means being deeply attuned to the emotions and energies of other people.  

The empathetic among us internalize other people’s emotions and feel what others feel acutely. Empathy can be experienced emotionally, intuitively, and even physically. 

So, clearly, it is not universal.  

If it were, this world would probably be a much better and kinder place.  

So, let’s consider the following 12 signs of a truly empathetic person according to psychology. 

1) They can’t abide the suffering of others

Truly empathetic people care greatly for others so can’t abide to see or think of other’s suffering. 

This is regardless of whether the pain is that of a close friend or someone they don’t even know. 

They are deeply compassionate and will often feel overwhelmed by tragic events, conflicts, and even atrocities that have taken place throughout history. 

As a result, they will often avoid watching the news or TV shows and movies that contain cruelty, violence, or exploitation.  

This points to their profound understanding of the needs, wishes, and fears of others and their wish for all of humanity to feel safe, secure, and happy. 

2) They’re energy sponges

And this profound understanding of others makes them powerful emotional receptors… 

A truly empathetic person absorbs the energy of those around them like a sponge.  

This includes good and bad emotions: from excitement and joy to sorrow, anxiety, and stress. 

No matter what the energy, they can naturally pick up what people feel and end up taking on the feeling themselves.   This explains why they often feel drained and overwhelmed in social situations. 

(And precisely how they are the opposite of energy vampires!)  

3) They feel other people’s pain

Imagine two friends attending the same funeral, one is empathetic, and one isn’t.  

The non-empathetic person will feel pity and sorrow for the family of the deceased and sympathize with them.  

The empathetic person will have the same emotional experience as the family, feeling like they lost someone themselves. 

And it doesn’t stop at emotions… 

Research shows that truly empathetic people can also sense other people’s physical pain.  

Considering such depth of feeling and understanding, the next sign of a truly empathetic person probably won’t be surprising…  

4) They can predict other people’s behavior

Their interest in diverse perspectives makes truly empathetic people excellent at seeing things from other people’s point of view, sensing how they feel, and understanding their motivations.  

According to psychology, this ability to be able to sense people’s intentions and know instinctively where they’re coming from makes them excellent predictors of other’s behavior.  

Studies have shown that empathetic people have more mirror neurons than the average person, and this enables them to naturally perceive the emotions and sensations of others.  

A veritable superpower, I’m sure you’ll agree!  

5) They’re great listeners

The art of active listening comes easily to truly empathetic people.  

This is because they are also genuinely interested in what others have to say and do so without judgement. 

They enjoy deep and meaningful conversations and are always fully present with others, focusing their full attention on whoever they’re speaking with.

Empathic listeners also give people the space to fully express themselves, which is why they are so easy and enjoyable to speak to.  

And why they tend to make such strong connections! 

Psychology says they tend to be reflective listeners, carefully considering what others say and trying to decipher the meaning behind their words.  

6) They’re emotional healers

Truly empathetic people think about how other people feel all the time and can sense when someone needs help. 

Their energy is always open to anyone in need and are powerful emotional healers.  

Their ability to synchronize emotions with others makes them magnets for those who seek emotional support or advice.  

So, if you’re the kind of person that people often confide in about their problems, chances are you’re a truly empathetic person.  

7) They’re natural nurturers

Do you feel compelled to nurture and care for others?  

Another sign of a truly empathetic person is that they possess powerful nurturing instincts. 

They will be found attending to the needs of others, often putting them before their own needs.  

Therefore, it’s no surprise that many empathetic people end up in careers where they support and heal others through physical or emotional turmoil.  

But this is where they need to be careful; excessively nurturing others can lead to compassion fatigue, which affects many caregivers.  

8) They’re bridge builders

Imagine you’re in a crowded restaurant and another patron begins to shout rudely at their server. Everybody is looking and the server is becoming more and more embarrassed and nervous… 

How does this make you feel? 

If watching scenes like this is torturous for you, you’re most likely a truly empathetic person. 

Empathetic people have an acute sense of justice and equality.  They can’t stand seeing and experiencing disagreements, they also hate to see anyone being humiliated or suffering at the hands of others. 

This makes them natural peacemakers and bridge builders. They excel at conflict resolution and are often the ones to bring people together. 

9) They struggle to set personal boundaries

And this discomfort with confrontation, combined with their strong perceptions of others’ emotions, makes setting boundaries challenging for truly empathetic people… 

And because they constantly make space in their lives to help others, their personal and mental space is easily violated by others.  

This can make them appear like pushovers, but it originates from their wish to help people. 

So, if this is you, be careful.  

Your sensitivity can allow people to suck your energy away!  

10) They’re highly sensitive

As well as being sensitive to the needs and suffering of others, truly empathetic people also have extremely delicate senses.  

This means they are easily triggered by certain smells, loud noises, or sights.  

Why? Because their hypersensitive system reacts to stimuli that many others may be able to tune out or wouldn’t even detect in the first place.  

So, they can easily feel overwhelmed in crowded places and tend to really enjoy recharging after exposure to lots of busyness.  

11) They’re highly intuitive

Great intuition is another gift of many people who are truly empathetic. 

They often know how someone is feeling before they express it and get a sense of what is going to happen before it occurs.  

They are often good at being able to tell when people are not being honest, making them excellent judges of character.  

This is because on top of being blessed with an ability to understand how other people are feeling, they are also highly instinctual and perceptive.  

Another superpower to add to the list! 

12) They’re creatives

How do you feel when looking at a stunning painting?

Do you ever get moved by a powerful piece of music?

The final sign of a truly empathetic person is that they are often highly creative. 

Their sensitivity makes them curious and their ability to experience other’s emotions also makes them highly imaginative. 

And combined, these qualities inspire them to tap into their creative power.

Final thoughts 

People who are truly empathetic have a huge number of amazing abilities, although many have their drawbacks!

Being so attuned to others all the time can be emotionally draining and exhausting so building emotional resilience is key.  

The truly empathetic out there  should remember that they can’t help everyone and must pick their crusades wisely.