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A self-focused reaction to another person’s negative emotion, such as a person feeling personally anxious and inclined to escape in the presence of another person’s distress. It may stem from exposure to another’s state or condition; however, it is an aversive response that includes self-focused reactions such as discomfort or anxiety.
References
Spinrad, T. L., & Eisenberg, N. (2017). Compassion in children. The Oxford handbook of compassion science, 53-63.