title: Dispositional empathy and the hierarchical structure of personality.
abstract: Personality psychology has recognized a fundamental 5-factor structure that has integrated and organized theory and research. Nevertheless, personality-like differences beyond that structure have been identified. In heretofore unrelated research, dispositional empathy has been an essential construct in understanding human development, behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Addressing a gap in the literature, we map multidimensional dispositional empathy into 2 versions of the 5-factor space. Empathic concern is closely related to agreeableness, and personal distress is closely related to neuroticism. Perspective taking has complex, interstitial relationships with the 5 factors. In contrast, fantasy is not well explained by the 5 factors. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding dispositional empathy and for understanding the 5-factor structure, its correlates in emotional processes and experiences, and its limits.
authors.affiliation: Mason School of Business, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA. todd.mooradian@mason.wm.edu
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mooradian
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matzler
mesh_terms: D002605:Character; D004645:Empathy; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005201:Fantasy; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D009042:Motivation; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010556:Personality Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012919:Social Behavior; D013694:Temperament