Abstract: Trait positive empathy is a new field in the study of empathy. Based on the current measurement and definition, most researchers regard trait positive empathy as the ability to subjectively feel and share the positive emotional information of others. However, it has been found that the connotation of trait positive empathy is more abundant than the current definition. A comparison of the relationship between trait positive empathy and appreciative joy showed that high trait positive empathy leads to more positive emotions with strong arousal, which is consistent with the object of empathy. When comparing the relationship between trait positive and trait negative empathy, researchers found that there was no significant relationship between trait positive empathy and trait empathic distress; however, there was a significant correlation between trait positive empathy and trait compassion. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the definition of trait positive empathy for the existing measurement tools; it should not only include the aspects of positive emotion resonance and sharing that point to the empathy subject itself (i.e. requires the production of the same emotional experience), but also the positive concern component that points to the object of empathy (i.e. does not require the production of the same positive emotion). The development of functional magnetic resonance imaging in personality research has allowed researchers to investigate the neurobiological basis of trait positive empathy. However, recent evidence from cognitive neuroscience suggests that trait positive empathy may be broader than the current definition. Firstly, the level of trait positive empathy has been found to be related to people's internal sensitivity to emotional information. Secondly, trait positive empathy is related to people's ability to process and experience positive emotional information. Finally, trait positive empathy may also involve the ability to pay attention to and care for others' psychological feelings. Taken together, trait positive empathy can be defined as the ability to understand and feel the positive emotions of others and to be happy for the positive events that happen to others. It should include at least three basic components: the ability to feel and process other people's emotional information; the ability to process and experience positive emotions; and the positive attention component that points to others, which requires individuals to be able to infect the positive emotions of others and transform the self-other perspective to benefit the success of others with good intentions. Previous studies have shown that individuals with high levels of positive empathy have high-quality interpersonal relationships and stronger prosocial behavior. Because the trait of positive empathy is always accompanied by positive social function, many researchers believe that it should be promoted and cultivated as a desirable personality quality. It is worth noting that although trait positive and trait negative empathy promote social function in a similar manner, there may be significant differences in the internal mechanisms. Researchers have offered viewpoints and hypotheses to explain these differences; however, they have yet to be systematically tested and thus have not reached a theoretical level of understanding. In future research, these issues require further exploration by focusing on the following aspects: development of more effective measurement tools that better define the connotations of positive empathy; expanding the research on the neurobiological basis of trait positive empathy; and ways to scientifically cultivate positive empathy in education and social practice, which can have far-reaching implications.

Key words: positive empathy, empathic distress, compassion, appreciative joy, prosocial behavior

摘要： 特质积极共情是对他人积极情绪信息感受和分享的能力。目前对特质积极共情的研究刚刚起步，在相关概念内涵上还有待进一步丰富和检验。特质积极共情可以有效促进亲社会行为倾向和良好人际关系的形成，是一种高利他性的人格品质。未来研究中，需要在明确并丰富特质积极共情的内涵界定基础上，开发更为有效的测量工具，探讨其促进社会功能背后的作用机制，并开展提升积极共情能力的理论研究和教育实践。

关键词: 特质积极共情, 共情痛苦, 同情, 随喜, 亲社会行为