Concept Of Empathy Research Articles

Politicizing belonging: Community formation at the Late Preclassic Maya hamlet of Dos Ceibas

Abstract People are often assumed to expand existing mechanisms—kinship in particular—to include others when they form communities. These models (con)fuse similarity with sameness, as we argue based on Husserl's concept of empathy. People recognize others without overlooking differences. They form community by negotiating belonging. We ask how individuals materialize community, how they create unity in a political process, and how they employ bordering and bonding social interactions. Our case study is Dos Ceibas, a Late Preclassic (350 b.c. to a.d. 250) Maya hamlet in the Petexbatun region. The North Plaza originated as a residential group—possibly of the hamlet's founder—and was transformed over multiple construction episodes into a public and ceremonial place. By a.d. 250, Dos Ceibas consisted of a small pyramid overlooking a plaza and two likely residential buildings. Its growth pattern sets the North Plaza apart from nearby Group MP16 and magnified internal differences. At the same time, Dos Ceibas's pyramid and plaza were likely communal constructions that project a shared community identity. The comparison with contemporary settlements nearby identifies distinct settlement layouts and suggests localized community identities.

Employees’ views on empathic behavior in the workplace: a bottom-up approach to understanding empathy

AbstractAlthough the empathy concept is relevant across all domains of human relations, it is often used in a vague and poorly defined way that limits its utility both in science and in real-world applications. Research indeed suggests that behaviors considered “empathic” vary across individuals and according to context. This research looked at the organizational context, by (a) in two studies, asking employees in many different work settings to rate a diverse list of workplace behaviors for how much each is empathic to them, and (b) in a third study, analyzing employees’ messages describing instances of fellow employees’ empathic behavior posted to their companies’ rewards platform. In Study 1 (N = 318), employees in different companies responded to a list of 44 discrete behaviors, and in Study 2 (N = 234), employees responded to the same behaviors as well as 25 more. In both studies, two conceptually different, but empirically related, types of empathy emerged, which we labeled Emotional Sensitivity and Professionalism. In Study 3, we coded for these two dimensions in 1,497 messages sent by employees on a company rewards platform where they described “empathic” workplace behaviors by co-workers. Results of all three studies suggest that in the workplace, behavioral manifestations of “empathy” extend beyond conventional notions of personal responsiveness to include task functions, thus demonstrating that “empathy” in the real world covers surprisingly wide territory. The research shows that context matters in discussions of empathy and provides a concrete vocabulary for scholars and organizations to use in research on workplace culture.

RADIOGRAPHERS AND EMPATHY - A LITERATURE REVIEW

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to introduce the concept of empathy in the radiographer profession. We explored why empathy is an important component of the radiographer, the positive impact of empathy on patients and radiographers, the negative impact of empathy on radiographers, how to introduce empathy into the workplace, and what infl uence the expression or non-expression of empathy has on radiographers. Materials and methods: We searched for the following keywords: empathy, emotional labour, radiological engineer, empathy, radiographer, radiologic technologist, burnout in radiography. Articles published from 1991 onwards were considered and only articles in Slovene and English with full text availability were included. Results: 13 articles were included in the analysis, which are summarised in a table. Empathy is a fundamental tool for building a therapeutic relationship between radiographers and patients and contributes to a better diagnostic quality of the examination. Empathy has a positive infl uence on therapeutic outcomes and on radiographers, as it can help to reduce stress and burnout in the workplace and improve the quality of life of professionals. However, constant exposure to stressful and emotionally diffi cult situations can have emotional and motivational consequences, such as empathic anxiety and personal distress. Understanding patients' emotions, opinions and experiences, helps radiographers to assess their needs and act accordingly. Conclusion: Empathy plays an important role in the work of radiographers as it contributes to a better relationship with the patient and helps to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic quality of the examination. Keywords: empathic care, burnout, empathic training, radiographers

Two spies: Espionage and empathy

ABSTRACT This essay is a self-psychological exploration of two Israeli field operatives, or spies, and their radically different experiences after retirement. The spies, whom the author calls Ariel and Jonah, worked in the 1970s and 1980s in various locales in the Middle East. Ariel and Jonah shared similarities in their abilities as spies but diverged in the way they were able to integrate into society afterward. One went adrift, while the other integrated and was able to find his place in Israeli society. Based on in-person interviews when the author was living in Israel and subsequent visits and phone conversations, this paper explores the way empathy proved effective for Ariel and Jonah when they were working as spies in the field but functioned differently in their lives afterwards. It incorporates core self-psychological concepts such as rage, mirroring, twinship and idealization, and explores the contrast between Kohut’s early conception of empathy as vicarious introspection, and his later conceptualization of what the author calls loving empathy. It also treats the notion of cultural selfobjects, including one’s country of origin and religious symbols, and the concept of generational trauma as an ancestral narcissistic wound that lies at the heart of insatiable feelings of rage and revenge.

Reflections of the Empathy Concept on the School Environment

By nature, people tend to communicate with other individuals around them. When communication is healthy, the incompatibilities in the organizations are minimized. One of the most important factors that ensure healthy communication is the ability to empathize. Empathy can be explained as the ability to put oneself in the place of the other person in general. This qualitative research, which aims to examine the reflections of the concept of empathy on the school environment in terms of students, teachers, school administrators and parents according to the opinions of teachers, is structured in a phenomenological design. The study group consists of 30 teachers working in different branches. The researchers created a semi-structured interview form with open-ended questions. The data is structured under categories and themes. The findings of the study are presented under 10 themes. The participants expressed the concept of empathy as empathy and developing a perspective to understand the other person, while the high empathy skills of the school stakeholders positively affected the success of the social environment of the school and human relations. Studies to be carried out to improve the empathy skills of teachers, school administrators, students and parents, in-service training activities, student, and parent activities were among the prominent results. It may be recommended that lessons and practices aimed at developing the empathy skills of teacher candidates be included in teacher training programs, and that inspectors and administrators, who are expected to play a leadership role in education, develop empathy behaviour and guide teachers, students, and parents.

Beyond Cognitive Empathy: Suggestions for Strengthening Medical Students’ Empathy

A physician’s empathy plays a crucial role in patient-centered care, and in modern medicine, patients, their caregivers, and society demand a high level of empathy from healthcare providers. The conceptualization of clinical empathy, which has emphasized cognitive empathy since the mid-20th century, has been widely accepted in medical schools and the healthcare industry without much critical reflection. This study provides an overview of the ongoing debates on empathy versus sympathy and cognitive empathy versus affective empathy to clarify the concept of empathy. Based on recent research findings, clinical empathy is proposed to encompass three components: cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and empathic motivation. It is suggested that fully demonstrating these components requires empathic communication skills. Additionally, the cognitive characteristics of medical students and the features of the academic environment demonstrate the need for education to strengthen their empathy skills. Considering this, proposed intervention methods that medical schools can consider include utilizing tutoring programs and debriefing processes for team activities, which can facilitate problem-solving as a coping strategy for stress. Learning communities can create an environment where students can receive social support and recover from stress. Medical schools can contribute to the development of students' professional identities as practicing clinicians who embody empathy and respect by cultivating professors as positive role models. Additionally, utilizing scales to assess the empathic nature of doctor-patient communication or incorporating patients and caregivers as evaluators can actively improve empathic communication skills.

The Relationship Between Empathy and Psychological Capital: A Systematic Literature Review

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between empathy and psychological capital through a systematic literature review. Outlining the concept of empathy, the components and measurement of psychological capital, and current research on the relationship between these two constructs, it examines the theoretical frameworks that explain the interaction between empathy and psychological capital and discusses the practical implications of this relationship for individuals and organizations. Finally, directions for future research are suggested.

Towards a definition of ‘empathic understanding’ in industrial design practice

Empathy is often not well defined, particularly in design. While the practice of designers developing a deep understanding of the people who use their products is recommended, the details of how to do this are limited. This problem of vagueness about empathy in design makes it difficult for product designers to take suitable actions to produce best results for the users. Through a strategic examination of a body of literature, across seven databases relevant to design, the systematic literature review adds to a discussion on empathy within the designing process. Study limitations included the complex nature of empathy itself, and multiple uses of the terms design and product. Findings indicate a contradiction of internal and external factors affecting empathy in design, and are considerably more complex than just an ‘accepted’ part of the design process. Shifting towards user-centred design in industrial design means that a considerably more nuanced understanding of empathy is needed, for implementation in design practice. By better understanding the concept of empathy as a duality, all stakeholders can manage expectations around empathy ‘behaviour’, and empathy as part of the design process. Empathy needs to be recognised as a complex phenomenological relationship between process (external) and person (internal) within industrial design. Practical, theoretical and societal implications of this concept are discussed.Transdisciplinary contribution: Empathy in product design practice represents several fields, related to human behaviour and interactions. This review’s contribution is to confirm areas for further research and the importance of developing theory to address the complexity of design practice.

Empathy in family medicine postgraduate education: A mixed studies systematic review

Purpose Empathy is an important construct in patient-physician relationships, particularly critical in family physicians’ daily practice. We aimed to understand how empathy has been conceived and integrated into family medicine postgraduate training. Materials and Methods Medline, PsyINFO, and Embase were searched in this systematic mixed studies systematic review. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and full texts. Disagreements were solved through research team consensus-based discussion. Included studies were synthesized thematically. Results A total of 18 studies were included. Four themes were identified. (1) Empathy definition. Included studies stressed the cognitive component of empathy, paired either with a behavioural or an affective response. (2) Empathy modifiers. Starting residency right after medical school, having a role model, having high empathy levels before residency, having children, being married, and being exposed to patient involvement in education were found to have a positive impact on empathy. (3) Empathy-burnout relationship. Whereas greater burnout was related to lower empathy levels, excess empathy seems to favour burnout through ‘compassion fatigue.’ (4) Educational programs for empathy development. Five programs were identified: a communication workshop, a patient-led program, a mindfulness program, a family-oriented intervention, and an arts-based program. Conclusions Studies mostly measured the cognitive component of empathy. The moral component of empathy was underrepresented in the conceptualization of empathy and the development of educational interventions. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the decline of empathy levels during the family medicine residency. Longitudinal designs should be privileged when exploring the evolution of empathy levels across the continuum of medical education.

Assessment of Empathy as a Prerequisite for Holistic Nursing: Psychometric Analysis of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students for Croatian BSc and MSc Nursing Students.

Purpose: To translate the original Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students version in a group of nursing students and asses its psychometrical characteristics according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments guidelines. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: The study included 345 bachelor's and master's students in the nursing degree program. Construct validity was tested by exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Convergent validity was tested using the Pearson correlation coefficient to test the relationship between empathy and emotional intelligence. The reliability of internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. Findings: The final version of the 16-item scale with its three-factor structure has a high reliability with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.86, and the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a positive and significant relationship between emotional intelligence and the total score of the empathy scale and the three subscales. Conclusion: The contribution of the study is significant as the instrument is qualitatively validated and its content is clinically and educationally important for understanding the concept of empathy, especially in the education of nursing students. The correct assessment of empathy contributes to a better understanding and implementation of the components of holistic care.

Animals in public service: A narrative inquiry

Birds, cats, dogs, and horses are some of the creatures that have collaborated with humans in delivering public services. This assertion is known but insufficiently examined. To bring animals into the public affairs discourse, this article defines public service and employs a narrative approach to examine animals working with people in service delivery. Animals are shown to satisfy essential public needs—from helping to win wars to policing streets to providing support for people as diverse as nursing home residents and occupants of the White House. Animals also make significant contributions to public service by being inspirational, demonstrating how mutual effort can accomplish goals, advancing the concept of empathy, bringing out the importance of character ideals, spurring innovation, and generally adding value to the public administration ecosystem. These findings support future research to understand the nature of human-animal cooperation in achieving societal objectives.

Empatiens mange ansikter: fenomenologisk og positivistisk empati

Understanding of the concept of empathy is often subject to change. The manifold conceptualisations, as well as the terminological ambiguities regarding the concept, are observed by studying interdisciplinary, overlapping and even contrasting perspectives of the phenomena across public discourse and academic literature. In this article we do not attempt to reduce the concept of empathy to a single entity, but rather strive to illuminate the many approaches to it. We identify a categorisation of the literature on empathy into two overarching approaches and propose two prototypical epistemological positions that might describe the definitional variations in understanding and applying it, namely a phenomenological or a positivist model underlying understandings of the concept. These two categories encompass wide subsets of traditions and perspectives which we summarise in a nomological network. Such a framing enables us to document the basis for the concept of empathy within a diversity of disciplinary traditions. Keywords: empathy, phenomenology, positivism, nomological network

Motivation and the role of empathy in engineering work

ABSTRACT Societal perceptions of engineering as a discipline now depict engineering as a profession that enables social, economic, and environmental problems to be addressed on a global scale. This expanded view of engineering has had myriad impacts on priorities for engineering education and practice. One such impact has been to foreground discussions about the role that empathy may play in engineering practice. This manuscript discusses the evolution of the concept of empathy in the engineering field, and the relevance of empathy to various generic engineering attributes, including leadership, problem-solving, and design thinking. The manuscript then discusses the idea that motivation plays a central role in improving and increasing empathy in engineering work.

Exploring Ethical Listening Among Public Relations Professionals

ABSTRACT This qualitative study explored how 54 U.S.-based public relations practitioners engaged in ethical listening. Findings of the study suggest that public relations professionals engage in ethical listening by drawing upon deontological concepts of dignity and respect, implementing care-centered concepts of empathy and inherent connection to others, modeling inclusivity and attentiveness to diverse perspectives, practicing accountability to ethical listening, and remaining humble. Models depicting organizational listening should consider inclusion of ethical values.

A reflective guide on the meaning of empathy in autism research

Empathy is an often researched but highly ambiguous concept. This makes research on empathy prone to miscommunication and misinterpretation. Careful reflection on what is meant by empathy in a certain context is essential. As the scope of the variety of possible meanings of empathy one could encounter is vast, such reflection would benefit from a guide that maps out this terrain of conceptual confusion. To this end, the present study maps out the diversity of the meaning of empathy within the scope of autism research. The autism context is of particular relevance as autism is often linked to empathy in research, and crucially, how one understands empathy shapes theories of autism as well as the societal perception of autism. An interdisciplinary literature search was conducted to collect different conceptualizations of empathy used in autism research. In 111 articles, 31 unique definitions of empathy were used. This diversity can be accounted for by a list of 12 dimensions along which the meaning of empathy can diverge, found in this study. These dimensions pinpoint which aspects of empathy require attention and reflection when engaging with empathy in research. It can be used as a practical framework to reflect on empathy in the design and documentation of research, defending methodological decisions, and interpreting the work of others. Furthermore, this study discusses various, and some worrisome, implications for findings and theories in autism research.

On the proliferation of the empathy concept in healthcare and medical education research

ObjectiveTo offer a critique of empathy concept usage in healthcare and medical education research. MethodsAnalysis of current usage and suggestions for authors and researchers. ResultsEmpathy is often undefined or inconsistently defined, and “empathy” as represented in research covers an unmanageably wide and varied range of intentions, attitudes, emotions, and behaviors. The ubiquitous use of “empathy” as a vague and often undefined umbrella term hinders comprehension and, therefore, scientific progress. Patients are rarely asked directly about empathy; instead, measures of so-called perceived empathy contain descriptive items that could as well be called quality of care, patient-centeredness, or patient satisfaction. Conclusions: Although “empathy” in medical care is widely valued by researchers, educators, and practitioners, the empathy concept as used in the published literature is overused and unclear, and potentially damaging to scholarship, medical education, and ultimately healthcare. The vague term empathy should be replaced as much as possible with concrete descriptions of what is actually measured, experimentally manipulated, or taught. Practice implicationsIdentifying patients’ own empathy definitions will improve medical education and medical care through clarifying what clinical behaviors will best fulfill patients’ needs and desires. This approach allows for greater specificity and personalized care delivery.

Empathy in Phenomenological Psychology and Psychotherapy

This study aims to focuses on the problem of access to other minds within phenomenological psychotherapy. The problem is that the Other is at the same time a phenomenon that is constituted by my consciousness and a transcendental subject located in objective reality. The author begins with the materials of the 1925 summer course of lectures given by Husserl in Freiburg, which set out the essence of the “new psychology” project. The new psychology should become an alternative to the natural-scientific approach, and should refer to direct individual experience. Therefore, it has intentional life as an object, refusing excessive theorizing about the psychological phenomena. The psychologist reveals the universal pre-experimental structures of consciousness through intuition, working with a priori forms. Empathy (German: Einfüllung) plays an important role in the work of a psychologist and psychotherapist. Husserl developed his concept of empathy through a rethinking of the theory of empathy by T. Lipps and understood it not as a mirror process, but as a projecting assimilation. Functional commonality allows you to create a bridge between the perceiving subject and the one who is perceived. Husserl’s concept of empathy became the basis for developing a number of productive therapeutic approaches. At the end of the article, two examples of such approaches are given: the phenomenological psychiatry of K. Jaspers and the method of subverbal communication of E. Gendelin.

Introductory Commentary to “Psychoanalysis’ zero gravity moment: Disrupting where we land”

ABSTRACT This paper challenges readers to examine how the “halls of power” within the psychoanalytic enterprise, and our own institutions mobilize our hatred and ‘white rage’ often subtly and imperceptibly towards non-whites. It raises the question: Are the marginalized and all non-white worlds also represented in our theories and training programs? He argues for a critical pedagogy which begins by our own racial self-examination and interrogation of our collective “implicated subjectivities” in the inhuman treatment of our patients, supervisees and colleagues – especially non-whites but whites as well because their unexamined racism dehumanizes even them. Using his own lived experiences in these psychoanalytic halls of power over 20 years, the author questions our tendency for universalizing, including self psychology’s central concept of empathy, especially as it is practiced. How shall we redress past and contemporary iniquities in order to make reparations, create a more just and inclusive psychoanalytic theory and practice and what might that look like?

공감의 개념 이해 및 목회상담에서의 함의

공감의 개념 이해 및 목회상담에서의 함의

Changes in the empathy levels of a group of undergraduate medical students: A longitudinal study

Background. The concept of empathy in students has gained significant attention in medical education. Whether implementing formal educational interventions to promote long-term and effective empathy levels leads to sustained increased empathy levels in students, is however less clear. Objectives. The study aimed to evaluate the trajectory of medical students’ self-perceived empathy levels during their 6-year MB ChB degree. Methods. A longitudinal, prospective study was conducted over 4 years. A cohort of 292 medical students was invited to participate. Participants completed the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Students (JSE-S) at three intervals during their studies. The students attended two workshops related to empathic patient interactions during this time. The JSE-S mean score by age and gender was compared, making use of a linear regression model. Results. A total of 119 students completed the study. Students’ total empathy levels were similar during the first and the last measuring point (110), but there was a significant rise in the intermediate measuring point (113.3). When the male and female cohorts’ scores were interpreted separately, both genders demonstrated a similar pattern to the total score, although females’ JSE-S scores were higher than the males. Conclusion. The results of the study confirm that educational interventions can increase students’ self-perceived empathy levels; however, we suggest that students require reinforcement and multiple opportunities to practise and observe empathic communication with patients to sustain high levels of empathy. Follow-up sessions to specifically target the promotion of empathy should be implemented; otherwise the long-term effect of educational interventions might be limited.