Empathy gap

The empathy gap is one's tendency to underestimate how varying mental states influence their behaviors and decisions to satisfy those states. This phenomenon is also known as the hot-cold empathy gap, which refers to two distinct mental states, hot being one's strong emotions and cold being one's logic without emotions. When we are in one of these states, we fail to acknowledge their temporary nature, and ultimately choose decisions that satisfy the present state.

Relevant Academic Papers
  • Loewenstein, G. (2005). Hot-cold empathy gaps and medical decision making. Health psychology, 24(4S), S49.