“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

―Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Empathy, Empathy, Empathy! The word on everyone’s lips, be it at school, college, gym, sports field, workplace. The word is the same on the lips but is defined in as many ways as the people using it. At its very root, it is the ability to feel along with a person while consciously trying to process or understand it from their perspective. Studies suggest that empathizing positively makes people kinder and cooperative.

Franzoi et al. (1985) stated that people who scored high on empathy reported having more satisfied and intimate relationships – definitely a major need in modern times of busyness and multiple break-ups. More studies on empathy have indicated its positive implications on relationships in the form of increasing closeness, trust and support over a period of time (Crocker & Canvello, 2008). This is a much needed ‘breath of fresh air’ in a climate of gloom with the ever-growing population with anxiety and depression.

Feeney & Collins 2001 claimed that an empathetic person in a relationship is said to be more supportive of their partner in a stressful situation, especially in this pandemic. In contrast, empathy can also cause dissatisfaction and dissolution of short-term relationships that are weakly established by virtue of security and endurance. (Ickes, 1997). If empathy is such a important ingredient in life journey, it is imperative that we practise it in our day-to-day life.

In the professional setting of the care-givers, empathy is a fundamental requirement for better outcomes for the recipients of care, whether it is medicine, teaching, caregiver, therapist etc. Several studies have established that high empathy has contributed to greater outcomes in patients' physical health as well as students' academic performance. (Coffman, 1981; Waxman, 1983; Aspy & Roebuck, 1972; Chang, Berger, & Chang, 1981).

Even outside the care-giving professions, empathy creates better relationships among co-workers that contributes to better work environments and productivity. Being able to listen to a co-worker or subordinate with empathy makes them feel heard and hence understood. This positively enhances their morale. In times of conflict, the skill of empathizing with the affected party can achieve effective resolutions with minimal strain.

Researchers at the Centre for Creative Leadership studied a group of 6,700 leaders from 38 countries. They concluded that management that was empathetic towards employees in terms of identifying signs of overwork, willing to help with personal problems, and interested in their needs and hopes were seen to have more favour towards them. The study revealed that empathy improved performance by creating a paternalistic environment of security and promotes job efficacy.

Richardson et al (1994) reported that high empathy deters anti-social behaviours like bullying, aggression, and other criminal behaviours. It also prohibits prejudices towards stigmatized groups and improves attitudes towards them. It is also the most basic component required in parenting. The empathy here that is face to face, informal, verbal and mutual, personal and caring about each other's likes and disinterest, ideas and thoughts; has a significant impact on the child's ability to empathize and take another person's perspective into consideration during their formative years.

A neuroscientist, Christina Keysers et al. (2011), suggests that one's ability to empathize may come from 'mirroring the mind.' According to this phenomenon, when you observe another person's pain, it triggers parts of the brain that activates our emotions and sensations - evidential neural circuitry considered responsible for empathy. So, for those who are not disposed to empathy, the capacity to empathize can be taught through programs aimed at training for compassion. Scientists Max Plank and Olga Klimicki say that compassion training can help activate the neural circuit responsible for empathy at the sight of suffering. While lack of empathy could be an indicator of psychopathological illness or psychological disorders (Narcissistic Personality disorders, Anti-social Personality Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorders) in a small percentage of the population, the rest of us can definitely overcome the following challenges to develop it.

Some other roadblocks that might hinder one from developing empathy are:

1. Prejudice and biases: Prejudice towards certain groups of people will obstruct feelings of empathy. A person's basic physical features, can become reasons for developing a bias.
2. Fear of being overwhelmed by emotions: The feeling of empathy often evokes many emotions that may be overwhelming for some. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, they may distance themselves while others perceive them as cold.
3. Superior feeling: Another factor contributing to lack of empathy is the preoccupation with self or indulgent self-interest. People who consider themselves superior often tend to dismiss other people as well as their feelings easily.
4. Empathy or compassion fatigue: Compassion fatigue, also identified as secondary traumatic stress, is most often found among people working with victims of trauma or illness daily such as Medical professionals, therapist, war veterans, social workers, police, firefighters etc.,  This leads to a decrease in compassion and an increase in anxiety and hopelessness. Though a person can feel empathy, they are unable to express it.

The innermost emotional need of human beings is to be heard and understood. Empathy is the door to meeting this need whereby more than half the problems facing mankind can disappear overnight. The practice of empathy is the humane solution to its inevitable suffering. Stay tuned for the next part of the series where we can learn how to develop this empathy. 

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Posted: 3 years, 6 months ago

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• JOURNEY OF EMPATHY →