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The image you first see in this visual test reveals how empathetic you are

Online Niel November 7, 2024

If you ever felt like you had a uncanny ability to feel feelings of people around you, this visual test will tell you how empathetic you are.

For years my mother used to talk about how the women in her family had a kind of “second sight”—an ability to feel deeply the emotions of others. My sister and I would roll our eyes, but then we would tell stories late into the night about the wonderful empathic women who were our relatives, and together we would weave together stories about what would happen when we finally got our own mental superpowers.

Although I no longer believe in psychic abilities, research has shown that 1 to 2 percent of the population report experiencing a condition known as mirror touch synesthesia, which he explains as “the trait of being able to ‘feel’ the feelings of others.”

The image you see first in this visual test reveals how empathetic you are.

Simply look at the image below and pay close attention to the first thing that catches your eye. Once you’ve done that, scroll down to find out what this personality test reveals about how empathetic you really are.

visual test how empathetic you are Sean Yoro

1. If you saw the first woman

If you saw the first woman when you looked at this picture, you consider yourself an expert on people, how they think and how they feel. The truth is, you are an expert on… yourself.

You’re not selfish or self-obsessed, but you’re not empathetic either. Chances are you’re someone who’s spent a lot of time figuring it out and want to share what you’ve learned.

2. If you saw the woman’s reflection first

If you saw the woman’s reflection first, you are the type of individual who has always been fascinated by studying other people.

You are very smart and that includes emotional intelligence. You can often tell what someone is thinking or feeling, even if they think they are keeping it a secret.

You might be empathetic or just good with people. Either way, it’s a great gift.

3. If you saw the water first

If you saw the water first, you will probably be empathetic. While others looking at this image might be distracted by the woman and her reflection, you are focused on the things around her, on how the ripples in the water seem to shift and alter her image.

You were born this way, and even if you are just now realizing that the way you see and feel things might be different, you will easily understand that.

4. If you saw the wall first

If you’ve seen the wall first, it’s hard for you to understand people. They were just never your focus.

It’s not that you don’t like people, but very often the things they say and do are confusing to you and you would give anything to figure them out. You’re not empathetic, but people care about you, and that means you’re probably a committed and caring friend.

Rebecca Jane Stokes is a freelance writer, editor, former senior editor of Pop Culture at Newsweek, and former senior writer for YourTango. Her lines have appeared on Fatherly, Bustle, SheKnows, Jezebel and more.