Introduction
The Empathy Quotient (EQ) is a self-report questionnaire that measures individual differences in empathy in adults of normal intelligence. Simon Baron-Cohen and Sally Wheelwright published it in 2004. It assesses both cognitive and affective empathy, and the original study has received more than 6,800 citations on Google Scholar.
The authors worked at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, and the original study appeared in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. This guide explains the structure and scoring of the EQ, the meaning of its cut-off score, and the languages in which researchers have studied it. In addition, it outlines what researchers and clinicians should keep in mind when they interpret EQ scores.
Key Features of the Empathy Quotient (EQ)
Purpose and Use
Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright designed the EQ to measure individual differences in empathy among adults. Specifically, it captures both the cognitive and the affective aspects of empathy. The developers also used it to investigate empathy differences in the general population and in adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism.
However, the authors advised against using the EQ as a stand-alone diagnostic instrument. Instead, they recommended using it alongside other assessment measures.
Target Population
The EQ targets adults aged 18 years and older who have normal intelligence. For younger groups, separate adolescent and child versions exist, as listed in the section on other versions below.
Structure
The EQ contains 60 items: 40 empathy items and 20 filler (control) items that are unrelated to empathy. The empathy items cover two sub-domains, cognitive empathy and affective empathy. Together, they address:
Recognizing and understanding other people's thoughts and emotionsPerspective-taking and emotional responsivenessSensitivity to social cuesPredicting other people's feelings and behaviorInterpersonal understanding and awareness of social situationsEmotional concern and everyday empathic behaviorsScoring Method
Each statement offers four response options. Depending on the statement, only the two "agree" options or the two "disagree" options earn points:
Response
Points when the option scores
Definitely Agree
2
Slightly Agree
1
Slightly Disagree
1
Definitely Disagree
2
Agreement earns points on items 1, 6, 19, 22, 25, 26, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 52, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59 and 60.Disagreement earns points on items 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 27, 28, 29, 32, 34, 39, 46, 48, 49 and 50.The remaining 20 filler items do not count toward the score.As a result, total scores range from 0 to 80.
Cut-off score: In the development study, a total score of 30 or below was the most useful cut-off for distinguishing adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism from matched controls. According to published scoring guidance, 81% of people previously diagnosed with Asperger syndrome score 30 or lower. By comparison, non-autistic males score 42 and non-autistic females score 47 on average.
Administration Format
The EQ is a self-report questionnaire, so respondents complete it themselves. They rate each statement on a 4-point Likert scale: definitely agree, slightly agree, slightly disagree, or definitely disagree.
Applications of the Empathy Quotient (EQ)
Based on its design and the original study, the EQ supports several uses:
Empathy research: measuring individual differences in empathy among adults in the general population.Autism research: studying empathy in adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, where the development study showed useful discrimination from controls.Social cognition research: assessing cognitive and affective empathy in studies of social understanding.Supporting assessment: complementing, but never replacing, a broader assessment with other measures.Languages and availability
Researchers have used and studied the EQ in several languages:
French: a cross-cultural validation in a French-speaking samplePortuguese: a Portuguese-language dissertationJapanese: survey studies with large Japanese samplesRomanianThe questionnaire is downloadable from the Autism Research Centre website. However, no instrument-specific statement confirms unrestricted reuse. Permission for redistribution, translation, adaptation, or commercial use has not been confirmed, so users should check with the developers first.
Reliability and Validity
In the original development study, the EQ showed excellent internal consistency, excellent test–retest reliability and good construct validity. Moreover, it discriminated usefully between adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism and matched controls.
Validation studies:
The original development study by Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004): study linkCross-cultural validation in a French-speaking sample (2008): study linkLimitations and Considerations
Researchers and clinicians should keep the following points in mind:
Not a diagnostic tool: the authors advised against using the EQ as a stand-alone diagnostic instrument.Adults only: this version targets adults of normal intelligence; younger groups need the adolescent or child versions.Reuse permissions: permission for redistribution, translation, adaptation, or commercial use has not been confirmed.Other Versions And Related Questionnaires
Several other versions of the EQ exist:
Empathy Quotient (EQ) for AdolescentsChildren's Empathy Quotient (EQ-C)Empathy Quotient, 40-item version (EQ-40)EQ-Short, a 28-item short formIn addition, the following questionnaires are similar or complementary to the EQ:
Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ); see also the ResRef guide to the Autism Spectrum Quotient-28 (AQ-28)Friendship Questionnaire (FQ)Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)Questionnaire Measure of Emotional Empathy (QMEE)Empathy (EM) ScaleChapin Social Insight TestDymond Empathy ScaleAdditional Resources
The official EQ page at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge: linkThe original study on PubMed: linkA PDF copy of the questionnaire: linkThe Empathy Quotient test on Psychology Tools: linkAn overview of EQ scoring by Embrace Autism: linkFor inquiries, contact the Autism Research Centre through its official questionnaire page.Browse more psychology questionnaires in the ResRef database.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can complete the Empathy Quotient?The EQ is designed for adults aged 18 and older who have normal intelligence. For younger people, separate versions exist, including the EQ for Adolescents and the Children's Empathy Quotient (EQ-C).
How is the Empathy Quotient scored?Respondents rate 60 statements on a 4-point scale. Only the 40 empathy items score: a "definitely" answer in the scoring direction earns 2 points and a "slightly" answer earns 1 point, giving a total of 0 to 80.
What is the cut-off score for the EQ?In the development study, a total score of 30 or below best distinguished adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism from matched controls. Even so, a score at or below 30 does not establish a diagnosis on its own.
Can the EQ diagnose autism?No. The authors advised against using the EQ as a stand-alone diagnostic instrument. Instead, they recommended combining it with other assessment measures as part of a broader evaluation.
Is the Empathy Quotient free to use?The EQ is downloadable from the Autism Research Centre website. However, permission for redistribution, translation, adaptation, or commercial use has not been confirmed, so check with the developers before such uses.
A Word from ResRef About the Empathy Quotient (EQ)
The EQ is a concise self-report instrument for assessing empathy in adults with normal intelligence, particularly in research involving autism spectrum conditions and social cognition. The original development study demonstrated excellent internal consistency, excellent test–retest reliability, and good construct validity. Although the EQ showed useful discrimination between adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism and controls, the authors advised that it should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic instrument and recommended its use alongside other assessment measures.
References
Baron-Cohen, S., & Wheelwright, S. (2004). The Empathy Quotient: An Investigation of Adults with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism, and Normal Sex Differences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(2), 163–175. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:jadd.0000022607.19833.00Berthoz, S., Wessa, M., Kedia, G., Wicker, B., & Grèzes, J. (2008). Cross-Cultural Validation of the Empathy Quotient in a French-Speaking Sample. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53(7), 469–477. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370805300712Ishii, T., & Watanabe, K. (2022). Do Empathetic People Have Strong Religious Beliefs? Survey Studies with Large Japanese Samples. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 33(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2022.2057059