OVER VIEW OF THE MEASURES
Self-report questionnaires include paper-and-pencil measures. Behavioral methods include evaluations of
experimental stimuli and performance on tests. Neuroscientific approaches include brain imaging techniques
(e.g., fMRI) and other measures of central nervous system activity (e.g., electroencephalography, EEG), measure
of facial electromyography (EMG), and autonomic nervous system measures (e.g., skin conductance, heart rate).
Space restrictions limited an extensive discussion of all neuroscientific measures and only some of the more
recent techniques are reviewed. Studies that have used more than one type of measure (e.g., fMRI and self-report
scales; Mathur, Harada, Lipke, & Chiao, 2010; Singer et al. 2004 ) generally show that the different measurement
approaches correlate well with each other.
Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES)
(Mehrabian, 1996 ).
Variable
The BEES is a unidimensional measure that conceptualizes empathy as an increased responsiveness to
another’s emotional experience. The measure assesses the degree to which the respondent can vicariously experi-
ence another’s happiness or suffering.
Description
‘The Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES) measures both of the aforementioned components of
Emotional Empathy (i.e., vicarious experience of others’ feelings; interpersonal positiveness) in a balanced way’
(Mehrabian, 1995 /C02010). The 30 items of the BEES are rated on a 9-point Likert-type response scale. The scale
yields a single score with higher scores representing greater levels of emotional empathy. A 7-item Likert-type
abbreviated scale and a French adaptation of the full scale also exist.
Sample
Separate samples of male and female college students were used in the initial construction of the BEES
(Mehrabian, 1996 ).
Reliability
Internal Consistency
Cronbach alpha coefficients for the BEES have been reported as follows: .87 ( Mehrabian, 1997 ), .81 ( Macaskill,
Maltby, & Day, 2002; Shapiro et al., 2004 ), .83 ( Toussaint & Webb, 2005 ), .90 ( Courtright, Mackey, & Packard,
2005 ), .85 ( Smith, Lindsey, & Hansen, 2006 ), and .82 ( Albiero, Matricardi, Speltri, & Toso, 2009 ).
Test/C0Retest
At e s t/C0retest reliability coefficient ( r5.79) was reported by Bergemann (2009) over a six-week interval.
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
The BEES correlates positively with the Emotional Empathetic Tendency Scale ( r5.77) and with helping
behavior ( r5.31;Smith et al., 2006 ). It correlates positively with the Basic Empathy Scale ( Jolliffe & Farrington,
2006a ) for both males ( r5.59) and females ( r5.70) in an Italian sample ( Albiero et al., 2009 ).LeSure-Lester (2000)
reported that the BEES correlates positively with compliance with house rules ( r5.67) and chores completed
(r5.57). Scores on the BEES are also positively associated with forgiveness of others ( Macaskill et al., 2002 ) and
in a sample of FBI agents, negotiation skills ( Van Hasselt et al., 2005 ). In an fMRI study, BEES scores were posi-
tively correlated with activation of neurons that compose the pain matrix (anterior insula and rostral anterior cin-
gulate cortex, r5.52 and, r5.72 respectively) when participants viewed significant others subjected to pain
(Singer et al., 2004 ).259 OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES
III. EMOTION REGULATION