Abstract: Empathy is a kind of psychological process of interpersonal interaction. Appropriate empathy can not only increase the occurrence rate of pro-social behaviors, but also inhibit aggressive behaviors effectively. Previous researchers paid more attention to the definition, components, dimensions and mechanism of empathy from the static point of view, but few have built up empathy model from the dynamic perspective. However, with the occurrence and development mechanism of its own, empathy is a psychological phenomenon which happens in the process of interpersonal interaction. Elaborating on the empathy model with dynamic viewpoint is essential to the understanding of the core of empathy. In this article, firstly, we review the definitions given by previous researchers, based on which we raise the connotation of empathy. Secondly, we comment on the models and theories related to empathy, and then put forward the dynamic model of empathy, and compare it with the previous models. Finally, we summarize this article and give some outlooks for future research.

Key words: empathy, brain imaging, dynamic model