Empathy theoretically serves an affiliative interpersonal function by satisfying motives for intimacy and union with others. Accordingly, empathy is expected to vary depending on the situation. Inconsistent empirical support for empathy's affiliative role may be because of methodology focused on individual differences in empathy or differences between controlled experimental conditions, which fail to capture its dynamic and interpersonal nature. To address these shortcomings, we used ecological momentary assessment to establish typical patterns of empathy across everyday interactions. Associations among empathy, affect, and interpersonal behaviour of self and interaction partner were examined in a student sample (N = 330), then replicated in a preregistered community sample (N = 279). Multilevel structural equation modelling was used to distinguish individual differences in empathy from interaction‐level effects. Results show that people are more empathetic during positively valenced interactions with others perceived as warm and when expressing warmth. By confirming the typically affiliative role of empathy, existing research to the contrary can be best understood as exceptions to the norm. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology

中文翻译：

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同理心在日常人际交往中的附属作用

从理论上讲，同理心通过满足与他人建立亲密关系和结合的动机来发挥亲和的人际交往功能。因此，同理心预计会因情况而异。对同理心的从属角色不一致的实证支持可能是因为方法论侧重于同理心的个体差异或受控实验条件之间的差异，而未能捕捉到其动态和人际交往的本质。为了解决这些缺点，我们使用生态瞬时评估来建立日常互动中典型的同理心模式。在学生样本 ( N  = 330)中检查了自我和互动伙伴的同理心、情感和人际行为之间的关联，然后在预先注册的社区样本 ( N = 279）。多层次结构方程模型被用来区分同理心的个体差异和交互层次的影响。结果表明，人们在与他人认为温暖的积极互动中以及在表达温暖时更具有同理心。通过确认同理心的典型附属作用，现有的相反研究可以最好地理解为规范的例外。© 2020 欧洲人格心理学协会