Counter-Empathy Scale: Adapting and developing psychometric properties in Northeast India

People experience different emotional reactions to others' struggles. Being empathetic towards others is essential for social interaction and building connections. However, individuals also experience counter-empathy, emotional responses that are incongruent to others' feelings. To gain a deeper understanding of the diverse emotional reactions of humans towards others in social relationships, the present study adapts the Counter-Empathy Scale (CES) developed by Jie and Wang (2023) for adults in Northeast India. Additionally, the study examines the relationship between counter-empathy and empathy. The Cognitive and Affective Empathy Questionnaire (QCAE) was used to measure empathy. The questionnaire was administered to 382 participants, aged 30 to 40 years. Reliability was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha, and the result indicates a good internal consistency. The validity of the scale was analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA); the results indicate an acceptable model fit, consistent with the original scale. Moreover, the correlation analysis between counter-empathy and empathy reveals a moderate negative relationship. The results indicate that the higher the counter-empathy individuals experience, the lower their empathy tends to be.