Topic 6 Empathy

By the end of this lesson, learners are expected to:

i. Define empathy.
ii. Explain the importance of empathizing.
iii. Describe the difference between empathy and sympathy.
iv. Explaining the situations requiring empathy.
v. Discuss the values associated with empathy.

i. Definition of empathy:

Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people's emotions,
coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. ...
“Cognitive empathy,” sometimes called “perspective taking,” refers to our ability to identify and
understand other people's emotions.

Empathy is defined as the ability to understand the thoughts feelings or emotions of someone
else. An example of empathy is feeling the same amount of excitement as a friend, when they tell
you they're getting married. Capacity to understand another person's point of view or the result of
such understanding.

The 3 types of empathy:

Empathy is an enormous concept. Renowned psychologists Daniel Goleman and Paul Ekman
have identified three components of empathy: Cognitive, Emotional and Compassionate. Since
empathy involves understanding the emotional states of other people, the way it is characterized
is derived from the way emotions themselves are characterized. If, for example, emotions are
taken to be centrally characterized by bodily feelings, then grasping the bodily feelings of
another will be central to empathy.

The importance of empathizing:

Without empathy, people tend to go about life without considering how other people feel or what
they may be thinking. Each of us has differing perspectives. We all experience moods, pain and
hurt, joy and sadness. And we are so limited when we only see our own perspective.
Without taking a moment to assess another, it is easy to make assumptions and jump to
conclusions. This often leads to misunderstandings, bad feelings, conflict, poor morale, and even
divorce. People do not feel heard or understood.

 Empathy allows people to build social connections with others. By understanding what
people are thinking and feeling, people are able to respond appropriately in social
situations.
 Empathizing with others helps you learn to regulate your own emotions.
 Empathy promotes helping behaviors.
 Empathy is the missing link in families, in our schools, and in our workplaces.

As we grow up, kids can often be mean to each other. If we start teaching empathy in grade
school and middle school, then perhaps we would grow up being more loving and tolerant
and understanding of each other.

iii) The difference between empathy and sympathy

Sympathy is a simple expression of concern for another person's misfortune. Sympathy,

Empathy is the ability to actually feel what another person is feeling, like the saying "to walk
a mile in their shoes." Taken to extremes, deep or extended feelings of empathy can actually
be harmful to one's emotional health.

Empathy means experiencing someone else’s feelings. It comes from the German
Einfühlung, or ‘feeling into.’ It requires an emotional component of really feeling what the
other person is feeling. On the other hand, sympathy means understanding someone else’s
suffering. It’s more cognitive in nature and keeps a certain distance.

v The values of empathy:

The importance of empathy, self-compassion, compassion and connecting with others to

being happy was a constant theme. "And it turns out that this fear of having compassion for
yourself is strongly correlated with fear of having compassion for others, and a lack of
willingness to extend compassion to others.
iv. The situations requiring empathy

There are 3 parts to empathy, which have more formal names but can be more easily
understood as thoughts, feelings and actions. To truly practice empathy, all 3 are required:

1). Cognitive empathy – This is the thinking part. Imagining ourselves in a situation, and
what it would be like. If we use this part without the next two parts of empathy, we slip into
sympathy.

2). Emotive empathy – This is the feeling part. It’s standing shoulder-to-shoulder with that
other person and feeling with them. It’s not above or apart from them, but together with
them.

3) Empathic action – This is the most difficult part for me, and for many people. Because it
actually means sitting in silence, not doing anything. Many people, myself included, default
to offering some sort of solution, new perspective, or diversion – to do something. Do you
know the common saying, “Don’t just stand there, do something”? Our coworker David
Tubley says empathy is exactly the opposite: “Don’t just do something, stand there.” It
sounds goofy but actually takes tremendous courage and vulnerability.