All about Empathy .
Empathy is a stepping stone in the human society .
Understanding Empathy & learning how to enhance it ,
is beneficial for both the individual & his / her social environment .
Empathy – Definition .
Empathy is the individual ability to sense , understand & share
another individual’s emotions , feelings & thoughts , from the
other individual’s point of view .
Additional definition , is the individual’s imaginative ability to
project his subjective thought into an object , as if it is the object’s
own attribute .
The mechanism behind Empathy .
Cognitive Psychology & cognitive neuroscience suggest that Empathy
can be explained by the : Mirror Neuro System in primates brains .
This system provides the biological mechanism for perception / action .
Every time we watch action , our brain release a neuron ( cell ) , similar
to the one it would released , if we preformed that same action .
The idea is : imitation .
Is Empathy genetic ?
A recent study , led by a team from : Cambridge University ( in the U.K. )
concluded : 1. A personal level of Empathy is partially determined by
genetics , 2. Women are , on average , more empathetic than men .
However , Empathy can be enhanced .
Hearing the other , listening to the tone of his voice & interpreting his /
her body – language ( like : eye contact , facial expressions & posture )
are skills , that can be learned .
The word : Empathy in English , is a translation of the German word :
Einfuhlung , that means : ” in – feeling ” or ” feeling into ” .
Types of Empathy .
In order to understand what types of Empathy exist , it is essential to
explain the difference between emotions & feelings .
Emotions are low – level responses in the brain , that create biochemical
reactions in the body . This reactions alter the body’s physical state .
Emotional reactions are coded in our genes & vary slightly among people .
Emotions precede feelings & are physical & instinctual .
Feelings originate in the brain too , but as mental reactions to emotions .
A subjective mental description , based on personal experiences , memories
& believes , that provide a meaning to the current physical state of the body .
Three types of Empathy .
1. Affective / Emotional EMPATHY – Sensing the other’s emotions
to a level in which you can imaginatively share & understand his physical
state .
2. Cognitive Empathy / Perspective Taking – Learning &
understanding the other’s state of mind ( his / her feelings , thoughts etc. ) ,
from his / her point of view .
3. Empathic Concern / Compassionate Empathy – Beyond
Empathizing with the other , it includes the action taken to provide him
relief & solve his / her problem to a certain extent .
Between Empathy & Sympathy .
While Empathy originates in a deeper , more profound , level of personal
emotions , Sympathy originates in a mental level .
Sympathy is expressing feelings of concern to the other’s state , without
necessarily understanding the problem .
Additional definition , is acknowledgement of a statement or an idea .
The importance of Empathy .
Empathy matters in every aspect of our life & is essential to human
society .
Inter – personal collaboration , trust & bringing – up the next generation
are the keys to survival & they all derive from Empathy .
The Botton Line :
” We all need to see each other , to bring out the full potential in others ” .