Empathic Similarity

Empathic similarity research focuses on computationally modeling the degree to which individuals connect emotionally through shared experiences, particularly within narratives and conversations. Current efforts leverage natural language processing (NLP) techniques, including novel datasets and model architectures trained to identify shared emotional trajectories, appraisals of experiences, and underlying needs expressed in text, going beyond simple semantic comparisons. This work has implications for improving human-computer interaction, fostering empathy in AI systems, and enhancing our understanding of human connection through the analysis of personal stories and conversational exchanges.