Character Trait: Empathetic

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. An empathetic character is one who is able to perceive and feel the emotions of other characters and respond to them in a compassionate and understanding way. This trait allows the character to connect with others on a deeper level and can be a valuable asset in building relationships and resolving conflicts.

Possible causes of being empathetic

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• Life experiences and exposure to diverse perspectives
• Empathetic role models or mentors
• Compassionate values and beliefs
• Natural curiosity and desire to understand others
• Genetics and upbringing
• Emotional intelligence and self-awareness

Behaviors associated with being empathetic

You may be able to show your character's trait of empathetic by using these.

• Showing kindness and generosity towards others
• Being able to put oneself in another person's shoes and imagine how they might be feeling
• Recognizing and understanding the emotions and feelings of others
• Avoiding judgment or criticism and instead offering understanding and acceptance
• Providing emotional support and encouragement
• Showing interest in others' perspectives and experiences
• Being patient and understanding with others, even in difficult situations
• Responding to others in a caring and compassionate manner
• Listening actively and attentively to others

Attitudes associated with being empathetic

You may be able to show empathetic through their attitudes.

• Desire to help and support others in a meaningful way
• Openness to different perspectives and experiences
• Willingness to listen actively to others
• Willingness to put oneself in others' shoes to gain a better understanding of their experiences
• Ability to understand and share others' emotions
• Patience and compassion in dealing with others' challenges or difficulties
• Respectful and non-judgmental attitude towards others
• Sensitivity to others' emotions and feelings

Thoughts and struggles associated with being empathetic

Here are some ideas for things your empathetic character may think or struggle with.

• Empathetic characters tend to be good listeners, but may struggle with expressing their own needs and feelings. They may put others' needs before their own, leading to neglect of their own mental and emotional health.
• They may experience overwhelming emotions themselves, as they take on the feelings of those around them. This can lead to burnout or emotional exhaustion.
• They may struggle with setting boundaries, as they don't want to hurt others' feelings or cause them distress. This can lead to them taking on more than they can handle or getting taken advantage of.
• An empathetic character often feels deeply for others, experiencing their emotions as if they were their own. This can make it difficult to see others in pain or suffering.

Emotions associated with being empathetic

Here are some ideas for emotions your empathetic character may experience.

• Compassion
• Open-mindedness
• Sensitivity
• Generosity
• Patience
• Selflessness
• Kindness
• Understanding
• Tolerance

Facial expressions associated with being empathetic

Here are some facial expressions your empathetic character may exhibit.

• Leaning in slightly towards the person speaking
• Gentle smile or slight upturn of the lips
• Expressing concern with a furrowed brow and pursed lips
• Head tilted slightly to one side
• Maintaining eye contact without staring
• Eyebrows raised and slightly furrowed
• Relaxed and open facial muscles
• Nodding slightly to show understanding
• Softening of the eyes

Body language associated with being empathetic

Here is some body language your empathetic character may exhibit.

• Using gentle touch or a comforting tone to convey support
• Leaning forward to show interest and engagement
• Nodding or tilting the head to show understanding
• Maintaining eye contact to establish a connection
• Using open, relaxed posture to signal approachability
• Mirroring the other person's expressions and gestures to convey empathy

Behaviors associated with being empathetic

Here are some behaviors your empathetic character may exhibit.

• Being able to put oneself in another person's shoes and imagine how they might be feeling
• Recognizing and understanding the emotions and feelings of others
• Avoiding judgment or criticism and instead offering understanding and acceptance
• Showing interest in others' perspectives and experiences
• Providing emotional support and encouragement
• Responding to others in a caring and compassionate manner
• Being patient and understanding with others, even in difficult situations
• Showing kindness and generosity towards others
• Listening actively and attentively to others

Growth and evolution of empathetic characters

Here are some ways that your empathetic character may grow and evolve over time.

• Overcoming personal biases or prejudices that hinder empathy
• Learning to set healthy boundaries and manage their own emotions while still being empathetic towards others
• Becoming more assertive and confident in advocating for the needs and feelings of others
• Learning to forgive and let go of past hurts or grudges towards others
• Learning to communicate effectively with others and express empathy more openly
• Gaining a greater sense of social responsibility and desire to help others
• Developing a deeper understanding of others' feelings and perspectives

Stereotypes of empathetic characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical empathetic character like these examples.

• Being a pushover or weak-willed
• Being overly dramatic or prone to exaggeration
• Being too eager to please others and neglecting their own needs
• Being too emotional and unable to control their feelings
• Being too self-sacrificing and neglecting their own well-being
• Being too quick to forgive and forget, even when they have been wronged
• Being too idealistic and unable to see the flaws in others or in situations
• Being too trusting and naive, easily taken advantage of by others
• Being overly sentimental or sappy

Negatives of being empathetic

Here are some potential negatives of being empathetic. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Feeling overwhelmed by the emotions of others
• Difficulty in making decisions that may hurt others' feelings
• Difficulty in setting and enforcing boundaries
• Feeling like they are constantly putting others' needs before their own
• Feeling like they can't say no to others' requests or demands
• Feeling drained or exhausted after being around certain people
• Feeling like they need to fix everyone's problems
• Taking on others' problems as their own
• Feeling guilty or responsible for others' feelings

Positives of being empathetic

Here are some potential positives of being empathetic. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• It can lead to a better understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences
• It can help diffuse conflict and build bridges between people
• Empathetic individuals are often seen as trustworthy and approachable
• It can lead to personal growth and self-awareness
• It promotes kindness, compassion, and generosity
• Empathy helps build stronger relationships and connections with others
• It improves communication skills and the ability to listen actively

Verbal expressions of empathetic characters

Here are some potential expressions used by empathetic characters.

• "I understand how you're feeling."
• "How can I support you?"
• "I can see things from your perspective."
• "It must be really tough for you."
• "I care about your well-being."
• "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."
• "I'm here to listen to you."
• "I'm sorry you're going through this."
• "I feel your pain."

Relationships of empathetic characters

Here are some ways that being empathetic could affect your character's relationships.

• They may have a tendency to put others' needs and feelings before their own, sometimes to their own detriment.
• Empathetic people may be more likely to forgive others and seek to understand their perspective.
• Empathetic people tend to be good listeners and often take on the emotions of others.
• They may be drawn to helping professions or activities that allow them to make a positive impact on others' lives.
• Empathetic people may struggle with setting boundaries and saying no, as they don't want to hurt others' feelings.
• They may have a deeper understanding of the impact of their words and actions on others.

Examples from books of characters who are empathetic

• Hazel Grace Lancaster from "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
• Liesel Meminger from "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak
• August Pullman from "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio
• Ponyboy Curtis from "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton
• Louisa Clark from "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes
• Jean Valjean from "Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo
• Anne Frank from "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
• Atticus Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
• Eleanor Oliphant from "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman

Writing exercises for writing empathetic characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write empathetic characters.

• Write a scene where your character advocates for someone else's rights or well-being, even if it puts them at risk.
• Describe a moment where your character goes out of their way to make someone else feel better or more comfortable.
• Write a scene where your character puts themselves in someone else's shoes to understand their perspective.
• Write a scene where your character stops to help someone in need, even if it inconveniences them.
• Describe a moment where your character shows compassion and understanding towards someone who has wronged them.
• Write a scene where your character sacrifices something important to them in order to help someone else.
• Describe a moment where your character actively listens to someone else's problems without judgment.
• Describe a moment where your character shows genuine concern for the feelings and well-being of others around them, even if they don't know them well.