Perceptions of Empathic Messages and Message Sources

Abstract This article discusses the impact on perceptions of listening for three different empathic responses attributed to three sources—best friend, counselor and stranger. One hundred seventy-six subjects responded to a written dialogue. Results of the analysis of variance indicated that a best friend and stranger were viewed as more empathic than a counselor by respondents. A response which solicits more information was also perceived as more empathic than messages that reflected the speakers own problems or a marginal response. Implications are discussed.