Empathy is defined as a vicarious affective response that is more appropriate to someone else s situation than to one s own. Often, this empathic response begins with a child s response to another s distress. Global empathic distress that is observed in infants during the first year. Because of the infant s inadequate self-other distinction, the child will respond to distress cues form others, such as another child s crying, as thought the discomfort were his or her own. Self-comforting strategies will be employed.
Egocentric empathy occurs next and during the second year.
During this period of time, a sense of other begins to emerge as distinct from the self. The toddler is aware that the other person is in distress but is not capable of understanding the person s internal states. In other words, a toddler may get his own mom to sooth a crying friend rather than the friend s mom. Empathy for another s feelings occurs around two to three years. At this time, the child becomes aware that others feelings differ from his or her own.