100+ Empathetic Personality and Character Traits

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.

Root Causes of Being Empathetic

You might want to weave these into your character's backstory to build a more believable character:

• Genetics and upbringing

• Empathetic role models or mentors

• Natural curiosity and desire to understand others

• Life experiences and exposure to diverse perspectives

• Compassionate values and beliefs

• Emotional intelligence and self-awareness

Attitudes Linked to Being Empathetic

You may be able to show empathy through their attitudes:

• Patience and compassion in dealing with others' challenges or difficulties

• Openness to different perspectives and experiences

• Respectful and nonjudgmental attitude toward others

• Willingness to listen actively to others

• Sensitivity to others' emotions and feelings

• Willingness to put oneself in others' shoes to gain a better understanding of their experiences

• Ability to understand and share others' emotions

• Desire to help and support others in a meaningful way

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 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.

• They may experience overwhelming emotions themselves as they take on the feelings of those around them. This can lead to burnout or emotional exhaustion.

Emotions Related to Empathy

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

• Tolerance

• Compassion

• Understanding

• Sensitivity

• Patience

• Open-mindedness

• Kindness

• Generosity

• Selflessness

Facial Expressions Associated With Being Empathetic

Here are some facial expressions your empathetic character may exhibit:

• Maintaining eye contact without staring

• Head tilted slightly to one side

• Expressing concern with a furrowed brow and pursed lips

• Eyebrows raised and slightly furrowed

• Relaxed and open facial muscles

• Softening of the eyes

• Nodding slightly to show understanding

• Gentle smile or slight upturn of the lips

• Leaning in slightly toward the person speaking

Body Language Linked to Being Empathetic

Here is some body language your empathetic character may exhibit:

• Using open, relaxed posture to signal approachability

• Nodding or tilting the head to show understanding

• Leaning forward to show interest and engagement

• Using gentle touch or a comforting tone to convey support

• Maintaining eye contact to establish a connection

• 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:

• Listening actively and attentively to others

• Showing kindness and generosity toward others

• Recognizing and understanding the emotions and feelings of others

• Responding to others in a caring and compassionate manner

• Providing emotional support and encouragement

• Being able to put oneself in another person's shoes and imagine how they might be feeling

• Avoiding judgment or criticism and instead offering understanding and acceptance

• Showing interest in others' perspectives and experiences

• Being patient and understanding with others, even in difficult situations

Growth and Evolution of Empathetic Characters

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

• Developing a deeper understanding of others' feelings and perspectives

• Learning to communicate effectively with others and express empathy more openly

• Learning to set healthy boundaries and manage their own emotions while still being empathetic toward others

• Becoming more assertive and confident in advocating for the needs and feelings of others

• Overcoming personal biases or prejudices that hinder empathy

• Gaining a greater sense of social responsibility and desire to help others

• Learning to forgive and let go of past hurts or grudges toward others

Empathetic Character Stereotypes to Avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical empathetic characters like these examples:

• Being too eager to please others and neglecting their own needs

• Being too idealistic and unable to see the flaws in others or in situations

• Being too emotional and unable to control their feelings

• Being too trusting and naïve, easily taken advantage of by others

• Being too quick to forgive and forget, even when they have been wronged

• Being too self-sacrificing and neglecting their own well-being

• Being overly dramatic or prone to exaggeration

• Being a pushover or weak-willed

• 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.

• Difficulty in making decisions that may hurt others' feelings

• Taking on others' problems as their own

• Feeling like they are constantly putting others' needs before their own

• Feeling drained or exhausted after being around certain people

• Feeling guilty or responsible for others' feelings

• Feeling like they need to fix everyone's problems

• Difficulty in setting and enforcing boundaries

• Feeling like they can't say no to others' requests or demands

• Feeling overwhelmed by the emotions of others

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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.

• Empathy helps build stronger relationships and connections with others

• It can lead to a better understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences

• Empathetic individuals are often seen as trustworthy and approachable

• It can lead to personal growth and self-awareness

• It promotes kindness, compassion, and generosity

• It can help diffuse conflict and build bridges between people

• 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'm here to listen to you."

• "I feel your pain."

• "How can I support you?"

• "I can see things from your perspective."

• "It must be really tough for you."

• "I'm sorry you're going through this."

• "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

• "I understand how you're feeling."

• "I care about your well-being."

Relationships of Empathetic Characters

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

• They may have a deeper understanding of the impact of their words and actions on others.

• Empathetic people may be more likely to forgive others and seek to understand their perspective.

• They may be drawn to helping professions or activities that allow them to make a positive impact on others' lives.

• They may have a tendency to put others' needs and feelings before their own, sometimes to their own detriment.

• Empathetic people may struggle with setting boundaries and saying no, as they don't want to hurt others' feelings.

• Empathetic people tend to be good listeners and often take on the emotions of others.

Examples From Books of Characters Who Are Empathetic

• Anne Frank from The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

• Hazel Grace Lancaster from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

• Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• Liesel Meminger from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

• Louisa Clark from Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

• Ponyboy Curtis from The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

• Eleanor Oliphant from Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

• Jean Valjean from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

• August Pullman from Wonder by R.J. Palacio

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 shows genuine concern for the feelings and well-being of others around them, even if they don't know them well.

• Describe a moment where your character goes out of their way to make someone else feel better or more comfortable.

• Describe a moment where your character shows compassion and understanding toward someone who has wronged them.

• Write a scene where your character stops to help someone in need, even if it inconveniences them.

• Describe a moment where your character actively listens to someone else's problems without judgment.

• Write a scene where your character puts themselves in someone else's shoes to understand their perspective.

• Write a scene where your character sacrifices something important to them in order to help someone else.