Empathic inference, or "everyday mind reading," is a complex psychological process in which observation, memory, knowledge, and reasoning are combined to yield insights into the subjective experience of others. This comprehensive volume addresses the question of how accurate our "readings" of the thoughts and feelings of others actually are. Introducing two innovative methods for objectively measuring this key dimension of social intelligence, the book offers essential insights into how and why people sometimes succeed and sometimes fail in their attempts to understand each other.