Computational empathy
Computational empathy is a multidisciplinary endeavor that is located at the intersection of the fields of artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, social psychology and philosophy. The goal of computational empathy is to model, simulate and replicate human empathy using a computer.
Empathy is the capacity to feel and understand what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference. Types of empathy include cognitive empathy, emotional empathy and somatic empathy. Cognitive empathy is the ability to take on another person's perspective. Emotional empathy is feeling another person's pain or pleasure. Somatic empathy involves physical reactions in response to someone else's emotions. Functions of empathy are also studied such as affective empathy which involves using cognitive and emotional empathy to make an appropriate response.
Solving the problem of computational empathy is key to forming meaningful, evolving relationships between humans and robots.