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empathic failure

[em-PATH-ik FAY-lur]
nounpl: empathic failures
falha empática
1. The inability or failure to understand, recognize, or appropriately respond to another person's emotions, needs, or perspectives
The therapist identified an empathic failure when the counselor dismissed the client's concerns without listening.
O terapeuta identificou uma falha empática quando o conselheiro descartou as preocupações do cliente sem ouvi-lo.
2. In psychology and psychotherapy, a moment when a clinician fails to attune emotionally to a patient's experience
The empathic failure in that interaction damaged the therapeutic relationship.
A falha empática naquela interação prejudicou a relação terapêutica.
Synonyms
lack of empathyempathic ruptureemotional disconnectionattunement failureaffective misattunement
Antonyms
empathic attunementemotional resonanceempathic understandingempathic connection

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
falha empática
Standard usage in psychology and clinical contexts
Portugal
falha de empatia
Alternative phrasing more common in European Portuguese
São Paulo
falha empática
Preferred in academic and clinical psychology settings

Related Idioms & Phrases

failure to connect
missing the emotional mark
lose touch with someone's feelings
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