“…Specifically, if perceived concordance results from one person authentically "matching" the affective state that they perceive in their partner, it should facilitate empathy by promoting shared perspective taking. However, if concordance results from an excessive focus on (and inability to regulate) one's own state, such that the individual "projects" his or her state onto the other person (Acitelli, Douvan, & Veroff, 1997;Hoch, 1987;Levinger & Breedlove, 1966;Neyer et al, 1999;Sillars, Folwell, Hill, & Maki, 1994;Sillars, Pike, Jones, & Murphy, 1984;Thomas, Fletcher, & Lange, 1997), then it can interfere with empathic responsiveness by distorting attention to the other person's distinct and independent affective cues (Zahn-Waxler, Radke-Yarrow, & King, 1979). As Hoffman (1990) describes, empathy requires that the individual acknowledge that "although he or she feels distressed it is not he or she but someone else who is in actual danger or pain" (p. 150, emphasis added).…”