Empathyv 2

Unit 5: Meeting individual care and
support needs
Learning aim A3
BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

© C. Bradshaw, C. Sawicki, M Ferreiro Peteiro and S. Rogers, published by Hodder Education
Learning aims
A: Examine principles, values and skills which underpin meeting the
care and support needs of individuals
• A3: Empathy and establishing trust with individuals
Starter question: What is the difference between empathy and

sympathy

care and support needs of individuals (A3, P2, M2)
What is empathy?
http://www.openculture.com/2013/12/the-power-of-empathy.html
• The ability to be aware of another person’s feelings, their needs and/or concerns
• The ability to understand the feelings of another person, their needs and/or
concerns
• The ability to understand why a person feels the way they do and show
compassion.
How will your case studies be feeling do you think?

Group activity
Time: 10 mins
• Why is empathy important?

Empathy theories
In trying to understand the concept of empathy, including what is involved in

empathising with others, there are two leading theories that have emerged:
1) Simulation theory explains empathy as developing when a person sees

another person experiencing an emotion, replicates it in themselves and
then is able to sense the emotion first-hand (mirror neuron)
2) Theory of mind explains empathy as developing as an automatic process

when the brain processes information about how a person should think and
feel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjkTQtggLH4

Empathy theorists (cont’d)
• Hoffman’s theory – Martin Hoffman is an American psychologist

and a Professor of Psychology who further developed the concept of
empathy by looking at how it is inter-linked to moral development
and develops between infancy and adulthood.

Hoffman’s theory
- Empathy develops with age

- Moral internalization occurs when a person’s moral
structure is accepted and the person feels obligated to
abide by its principles and consider others regardless of
external punishment or reward.
- This happens through socialisation

Empathy theories
Description Pros Cons

Simulation theory
Theory of mind
Hoffman’s theory

What may stop a health and social care worker feeling empathy for their client ?
A) A psychiatric nurse working with someone who has committed a violent crime
B) A counsellor who is pro life who has a client who wants an abortion
C) A health and social care worker who does not like elderly people?
D) Someone who sees the service user as a hypochondriac or who does not deserve treatment eg a smoker or
an alcoholic with liver disease.
What can the health and social care worker do to stop their feelings affected the way they care for the service
user?
When might a health and social care worker’s empathy for a service user cause a problem?

Empathy’s limitations
Over arousal
Habituations
Familiarity bias
Here and now bias
Moral principles

Theories for developing positive relationships

The attachment and emotional resilience theories are useful for understanding how
to establish and develop positive relationships:
• attachment theory – a psychological model developed by John Bowlby and Mary

Ainsworth to help explain the short- and long-term relationships people experience
during their lifetime, and the importance of attachment for personal development
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwxjfuPlArY
• emotional resilience theory – theories about what resilience is, and how it
develops from characteristics that are present in children and adults, can help with
understanding the different strategies available to support children and adults in
managing and learning from different experiences and adversities.

Pairs activity
Time: 15 mins
• Read through ‘Case study: Danny’.
• In pairs, discuss how ‘attachment’ and ‘emotional resilience’ had

an impact on Danny’s life.

The triangle of care
Service user
The triangle
of care
Professional Carer

A: Examine principles, values and skills which underpin meeting
the care and support needs of individuals (A3, P2, M2)
Independent research activity

Time: 20 mins
• Research how the triangle of care is used in meeting the care and
support needs of individuals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOYV0wYRtHs

the care and support needs of individuals (A3, P2, M2, D2)
Reflection activity
Time: 10 mins
• Why can the triangle of care be useful when supporting individuals

who have diverse needs?

Independent research activity

Time: 25 mins
• Research current empathy theories and how they link to

developing positive relationships.

Classroom discussion activity

Time: 15 mins
• Discuss the values that link to empathy and how they can be
promoted to meet individuals’ needs.

Extension activity
Time: 30 mins
• Present the pros and cons of two empathy theories.

Summary
In this lesson we:
defined positive relationships

explained the concept of empathy
examined in detail the various ways of establishing positive
relationships
explored the triangle of care working approach
examined in detail empathy theories and their relevance to
meeting the care and support needs of individuals.

Summary: plenary activities

1. Why is empathy necessary for establishing positive relationships?
2. How can the triangle of care be used to establish trust with
individuals?


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Unit 5: Meeting individual care and

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Starter question: What is the difference between empathy and

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

How will your case studies be feeling do you think?

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

• Why is empathy important?

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

In trying to understand the concept of empathy, including what is involved in

1) Simulation theory explains empathy as developing when a person sees

2) Theory of mind explains empathy as developing as an automatic process

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Empathy theorists (cont’d)

• Hoffman’s theory – Martin Hoffman is an American psychologist

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

- Empathy develops with age

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Description Pros Cons

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Theories for developing positive relationships

• attachment theory – a psychological model developed by John Bowlby and Mary

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

• Read through ‘Case study: Danny’.

• In pairs, discuss how ‘attachment’ and ‘emotional resilience’ had

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

The triangle of care

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Independent research activity

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

• Why can the triangle of care be useful when supporting individuals

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Independent research activity

• Research current empathy theories and how they link to

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Classroom discussion activity

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

• Present the pros and cons of two empathy theories.

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

defined positive relationships

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Summary: plenary activities

BTEC NATIONAL LEVEL 3 HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

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