Empathy is the power to see and share the views or opinions of another. Empathy is, at its simplest, awareness of the tactile sensations and emotions of the other masses. It is the link between self and others.
According to several experts, empathy is defined equally:
- An observer reacting emotionally because he perceives that some other soul is experiencing or is about to have an emotion. – Ezra Stotland, 1969
- An attack by one self-aware, self to comprehend
un judgementally the positive and negative experiences of some other-self. – Lauren Wispe, 1986 - An effective response is more appropriate to somebody else’s situation to one’s own
. – Martin Hoffman, 1987
Why is Empathy necessary?
Because before you give reaction to action, you need to know how others are feeling. You need to know their emotions, then respond according to the situation.
Anterior Cingulate Cortex
The researchers found that a brain area called the anterior cingulate cortex, which is often active when we see others in pain, was less active when participants saw members of ethnic groups different from their own in pain.
Types of Empathy
- Cognitive Empathy
- Emotional Empathy
- Compassionate Empathy
Cognitive Empathy:
Cognitive empathy is the ability to understand how a person feels and what they might be thinking. Building Cognitive Empathy:
- Building cognitive empathy is about making educated guesses.
- Engage yourself with the person
- Do not interpret the mood too quickly
- Observe the verbal or written response
- Observe body language
Emotional Empathy
Emotional empathy (also known as affective empathy) is the ability to share the feelings of another person. Some have described it as “your pain in my heart. Building Emotional Empathy:
- Share the feeling
- Make deeper connections
- Listen carefully to the person
- Resist the urge to judge
- Reflect
Once you understand the person feeling find a way to relate to it
Compassionate Empathy
Compassionate empathy (also known as an empathic concern) goes beyond simply understanding others and sharing their feelings: it actually moves us to take action, to help however we can.
Building Compassionate Empathy:
- Share your experience
- Avoid conveying impressions that you have all the answers
- Help them
Once you understand the person feeling find a way to relate to it
Compassionate Empathy
Compassionate empathy (also known as an empathic concern) goes beyond simply understanding others and sharing their feelings: it actually moves us to take action, to help however we can.
Building Compassionate Empathy:
- Share your experience
- Avoid conveying impressions that you have all the answers
- Help them
