Empathy Quotient – Short Form (EQ-10)
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The EQ-10 is a 10-item abbreviated version of the 60-item Empathy Quotient (EQ), created as a rapid screening tool for empathy-related traits in adults. Developed by Allison, Baron-Cohen, and colleagues, the EQ-10 retains the most discriminating items from the full EQ and provides a quick estimate of general empathic tendencies. Scores range from 0–10, with higher scores indicating greater self-reported empathy. The EQ-10 is not intended for diagnosis or for evaluating the full multidimensional construct of empathy; rather, it is a compact indicator suited for research settings, preliminary screening, and contexts where time is limited.
Type: Brief empathy trait screener
Population: Adults (16+)
Length: 10 items
Format: Self-report
Completion Time: <2 minutes
Administer once for baseline trait insight, with optional periodic (e.g., annual) use for research or personal development, as it isn’t intended for ongoing clinical monitoring because empathy traits remain relatively stable over time.
Foundational Context
The EQ-10 was created by statistically reducing the 60-item Empathy Quotient to a short form while maintaining the strongest predictive items. The goal was to offer a rapid indicator of empathic functioning that could serve as a “red flag” for autism screening or be used in broader psychological research. The short form preserves the core theoretical underpinnings of the full EQ: cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and social sensitivity.
While highly efficient, the EQ-10 does not capture the full nuance of empathy and should not be relied on for diagnostic or high-stakes decisions. Its utility lies in its brevity and the ease with which it can be integrated into multi-measure batteries.
What the Assessment Measures
The EQ-10 captures global empathy tendencies, including:
- Cognitive empathy: ability to infer what others think or feel
- Affective empathy: emotional responsiveness to others’ emotions
- Social sensitivity and intuition: awareness of social cues and interpersonal dynamics
All items contribute to a single summed score.
Interpretation Guidelines
The EQ-10 produces a single total score ranging from 0–10.
General interpretation:
- Higher scores → greater self-reported empathy
- Lower scores → reduced empathy tendencies relative to population averages
Interpretation Notes:
- No clinical cutoffs or diagnostic thresholds
- A low score does not imply autism or any disorder
- Empathy levels are influenced by personality, culture, stress, trauma history, alexithymia, and temporary emotional states
- As a short form, the EQ-10 provides directional insight rather than a complete empathy profile
Psychometric Properties
Reliability
- Good internal consistency for a 10-item screener
- Acceptable stability across administrations
Validity
- Strong correlation with the full EQ
- Good discriminative validity between autistic and non-autistic research groups
- Not intended to provide multidimensional empathy analysis
Administration Considerations
- Ideal for quick-triage settings, large-scale research, or multi-measure screening protocols
- Can supplement autism screening but cannot replace comprehensive assessment
- Should be interpreted cautiously when mood, burnout, or social anxiety may depress empathy scores
- Best used alongside broader trait or diagnostic measures
Limitations
- Too brief to capture the complexity of empathy
- Does not differentiate cognitive vs. affective empathy
- Not suitable as a standalone clinical tool
- Self-report biases and masking may affect accuracy
- Not validated extensively across diverse cultures
Copyright
© Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge. All rights reserved.
References
- Allison, C., Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., et al. (2011). Short-form AQ/EQ development. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0844-6
- Baron-Cohen, S., & Wheelwright, S. (2004). The Empathy Quotient (EQ). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(2), 163–175. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JADD.0000022607.19833.00
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for diagnosis, clinical evaluation, or medical advice. The EQ-10 is a brief screener and should not inform clinical decisions on its own.
Permissions
The EQ-10 was developed by the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. It is available for non-commercial clinical and research use with appropriate citation. Reproduction of full item text requires acknowledgment and may require permission from ARC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the EQ-10 diagnostic?
No. It is a brief trait screener only.
Does a low EQ-10 score indicate autism?
No. Empathy traits vary widely across many conditions and personalities.
How does the EQ-10 differ from the full EQ?
It uses only the 10 strongest items and produces a single overall score.
Should clinicians repeat the EQ-10?
Not routinely—empathy is generally stable.
Can someone be autistic and still score high?
Yes. Many autistic adults report strong affective empathy even if cognitive empathy differs.
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