Interpersonal Reactivity Index

The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) is a published measurement tool for the multi-dimensional assessment of empathy. It was developed by Mark H. Davis, a professor of psychology at Eckerd College.^[1] The tool is widely used—the paper describing it^[1] has been cited 3697 times, according to Google Scholar.^[2]

The tool is a self-report comprising 28-items answered on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from “Does not describe me well” to “Describes me very well”.

The four subscales^[3] are:

1. Perspective Taking – the tendency to spontaneously adopt the psychological point of view of others.
2. Fantasy – taps respondents' tendencies to transpose themselves imaginatively into the feelings and actions of fictitious characters in books, movies, and plays.
3. Empathic Concern – assesses "other-oriented" feelings of sympathy and concern for unfortunate others.
4. Personal Distress – measures "self-oriented" feelings of personal anxiety and unease in tense interpersonal settings.

Example questions:

• 11. I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective.
• 28. Before criticizing somebody, I try to imagine how I would feel if I were in their place.

References

1. MH Davis "Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach." Journal of personality and social psychology, 1983 v.44:1 p.113-126
3. http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=1983-22418-001

External links

• "Interpersonal Reactivity Index" on Eckerd College website
• Mark H. Davis web page on Eckerd College website