ÌÇÐÄVlog

People with high levels of empathy are more sensitive to tone of voice in everyday conversations, a new study has discovered.

ÌÇÐÄVlog research revealed almost everyone experiences discomfort when exposed to an angry voice, even when words spoken didn't carry emotional meaning.

However, more empathic people experienced even higher levels of discomfort and were also less likely to share information with the speaker, a finding that is particularly relevant in health care.

The Department of Psychology study, published in , highlights the need for training in key jobs like in teaching, healthcare, and customer service - where vocal delivery can undermine trust and spark distress.

Impact in the classroom

Professor Silke Paulmann highlights the impact this can have in a classroom, as tone can shape students’ sense of safety and willingness to participate.

Professor Paulmann, study co-author and head of department, said: “We tend to focus on what people say, but how they say it often carries more emotional weight.

“Especially for empathic listeners, a negative tone can be disproportionately impactful.”

The study, co-led by Dr Paul Hanel explored how participants responded to conversations using appropriate or inappropriate vocal tones.

More than 800 people took part in a series of experiments which measured their reactions to a speaker using either a happy or an angry tone of voice.

Violation of social norms

The results suggest empathic individuals are not only more attuned to emotional content but also more reactive to violations of social norms.

“Empathy doesn’t just help people understand others - it also makes them more sensitive to the emotional environment,” said Dr Hanel.

“That includes being more affected when something feels ‘off,’ like when someone speaks in an unfriendly tone despite using neutral words.”

Dr Hanel and Professor Paulmann challenge the assumption that empathy is always an advantage, as it also makes individuals more vulnerable to emotional discomfort.
“We need to recognise that empathy is both a strength and a sensitivity,” added Dr Hanel.

“By understanding how empathic people experience the world, we can create more emotionally intelligent communication strategies and supportive environments for everyone.”