Final answer:
The act of placing an arm around someone who is upset is an example of emotional empathy, which encompasses sharing in another person's emotional state. Cognitive empathy involves understanding another's perspective without the same emotional involvement. Emotional empathy is depicted through physical comfort and close connection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario described involves emotional empathy, which is the ability to share and understand another person's feelings on an emotional level. It's a form of empathy that goes beyond simply recognizing what another person feels—emotional empathy involves actually feeling the emotions that the other person is experiencing. By placing an arm around someone who is upset, an individual is providing physical comfort and demonstrating that they are sharing in the person's emotional state, which is a key characteristic of emotional empathy. This kind of supportive physical gesture is often instinctual and reflects a deep human capacity for compassion and understanding.
Cognitive empathy, in contrast, refers to the ability to mentally understand another person's perspective or emotional state without necessarily sharing that emotional experience. This form of empathy requires a more deliberate mental effort to 'put oneself in another's shoes' and can be important for effective social problem solving and conflict resolution. The development of cognitive empathy, which increases during adolescence, is influenced by various factors, including supportive relationships with parents or guardians.