The Empathy Quotient – EQ-40

I can easily tell if someone else wants to enter a conversation.

I find it difficult to explain to others things that I understand easily, when they don't understand it first time.

I really enjoy caring for other people.

I find it hard to know what to do in a social situation.

People often tell me that I went too far in driving my point home in a discussion.

It doesn't bother me too much if I am late meeting a friend.

Friendships and relationships are just too difficult, so I tend not to bother with them.

I often find it difficult to judge if something is rude or polite.

In a conversation, I tend to focus on my own thoughts rather than on what my listener might be thinking.

When I was a child, I enjoyed cutting up worms to see what would happen.

I can pick up quickly if someone says one thing but means another.

It is hard for me to see why some things upset people so much.

I find it easy to put myself in somebody else's shoes.

I am good at predicting how someone will feel.

I am quick to spot when someone in a group is feeling awkward or uncomfortable.

If I say something that someone else is offended by, I think that that's their problem, not mine.

If anyone asked me if I liked their haircut, I would reply truthfully, even if I didn't like it.

I can't always see why someone should have felt offended by a remark.

Seeing people cry doesn't really upset me.

I am very blunt, which some people take to be rudeness, even though this is unintentional.

I don’t tend to find social situations confusing.

Other people tell me I am good at understanding how they are feeling and what they are thinking.

When I talk to people, I tend to talk about their experiences rather than my own.

It upsets me to see an animal in pain.

I am able to make decisions without being influenced by people's feelings.

I can easily tell if someone else is interested or bored with what I am saying.

I get upset if I see people suffering on news programmes.

Friends usually talk to me about their problems as they say that I am very understanding.

I can sense if I am intruding, even if the other person doesn't tell me.

People sometimes tell me that I have gone too far with teasing.

Other people often say that I am insensitive, though I don’t always see why.

If I see a stranger in a group, I think that it is up to them to make an effort to join in.

I usually stay emotionally detached when watching a film.

I can tune into how someone else feels rapidly and intuitively.

I can easily work out what another person might want to talk about.

I can tell if someone is masking their true emotion.

I don't consciously work out the rules of social situations.

I am good at predicting what someone will do.

I tend to get emotionally involved with a friend's problems.

I can usually appreciate the other person's viewpoint, even if I don't agree with it.