What is the name for the affective response where an observer empathetically feels concern for another without sharing their emotions?

The term "empathic concern" refers to the ability to understand and feel compassion for another individual's situation or emotions without actually experiencing those feelings oneself. This concept is crucial in contexts such as counseling, nursing, or any interpersonal relationships where understanding others' emotional states is beneficial, yet it is important to maintain a degree of emotional distance to provide support effectively.

Empathic concern allows an observer to engage with someone else's feelings and demonstrate care or compassion while maintaining their own emotional equilibrium. This means that while they recognize and appreciate the other person's struggles or joys, they do not become overwhelmed or subsumed by those emotions. This distinction is vital for professionals in caregiving or support roles, as it helps prevent burnout and emotional exhaustion that can occur if one were to become too emotionally entangled in others' experiences.

This concept is different from emotional contagion, which involves catching and mirroring another person's emotions, and from detached concern, which implies a level of emotional distancing that might prevent true empathy. Both of these terms differ in how they frame the interaction with others' emotions compared to empathic concern, which emphasizes compassion without personal emotional involvement.