Divergent/Discriminant
Smith et al. (2006) found that the BEES correlates negatively with aggression ( r52.21). Similarly, in a sample
of adolescents, negative correlations were reported between aggression towards peers ( r52.57) and aggression
towards staff ( r52.59) ( LeSure-Lester, 2000 ).Mehrabian (1997) also reported that BEES scores correlated nega-
tively with aggression ( r52.31) and risk of eruptive violence ( r52.50).
Construct/Factor Analytic
A principal components analysis based on the item intercorrelations investigated the structure of the BEES
(see Mehrabian, 1997 ). Although three components had eigenvalues greater than one, it was concluded that a uni-
dimensional structure reflecting emotional empathy provided the most parsimonious interpretation.
Criterion/Predictive
Scores on the BEES increased significantly from pretest to posttest in educational programs designed to
increase empathy towards patients ( Shapiro et al., 2004 ) and towards Holocaust victims ( Farkas, 2002 ).
Location
Mehrabian, A. (1996). Manual for the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES) . Monterey, CA: Albert
Mehrabian.
Details available at: www.kaaj.com/psych/scales/emp.html (Retrieved December 30, 2013).
Results and Comments
Gender differences have been reported with females tending to obtain higher scores than males on the full
BEES ( Marzoli et al., 2011; Schulte-Ru ¨ther, Markowitsch, Shah, Fink, & Piefke, 2008; Toussaint & Webb, 2005 )a s
well as on an abbreviated version ( Mehrabian, 2000 ). Although the BEES has been widely adopted by researchers,
empathy is commonly regarded as a multidimensional construct. The BEES is limited in its focus on emotional
empathy. The extent to which the single score on the measure is independent of cognitive empathy remains to be
determined.
BEES SAMPLE ITEMS
‘I cannot feel much sorrow for those who are
responsible for their own misery.’
‘Unhappy movie endings haunt me for hours
afterwards.’Notes : Items are rated on a 9-point Likert-type
scale ranging from 145‘Very strong agreement’ to
245‘Very strong disagreement’.
Copyright r1995/C02010 Albert Mehrabian.
Multidimensional Emotional Empathy Scale (MDEES)
(Caruso & Mayer, 1998 ).
Variable
The MDEES focuses on the affective component of empathy and is intended for use with adolescents and
adults.
Description
Thirty items describing positive and negative emotional situations are responded to on a 5-point Likert-type
scale. The MDEES is proposed to consist of six subscales labeled: Empathic Suffering, Positive Sharing,
Responsive Crying, Emotional Attention, Feeling for Others, and Emotional Contagion. The total scale score is
obtained by summing across all the items (six negatively worded items are reverse scored), although reverse-
worded items may measure a rather different construct (Boyle et al., 2008).260 10. MEASURES OF EMPATHY: SELF-REPORT , BEHAVIORAL, AND NEUROSCIENTIFIC APPROACHES
III. EMOTION REGULATION