Guidepost #1: What Is Empathy And Why It Matters

What is Empathy?

“Down Roads We Go” photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

What does it mean to be empathetic? How has empathy changed and evolved over time? And what does empathy have to do with changemaking?

The term empathy is complex and can often describe a wide range of human experiences and behaviours. Sara Konrath (n.d.), a researcher on group dynamics, describes empathy as “a delicate cocktail blending assorted elements of inborn aptitude, social conditioning, personal history, and practice and motivation” (para. 2).

The Greater Good Science Center [GGSC] (2024) further our understanding of empathy as “the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling” (para. 1). GGSC (2024) also suggest that researchers often delineate empathy into affective empathy, which describes the “feelings we get in response to others’ emotions” and cognitive empathy, which describes our ability to “identify and understand other people’s emotions” (para. 2). Put differently, empathy is the ability to be aware of and understand our own and other people’s emotions, feelings, and perspectives, and to use that understanding to recognize patterns over time, and guide one’s actions to contribute to the good of all.

RSA’s (2013) video, Brené Brown on Empathy, shares Brené’s four attributes of empathy and reminds us how we can tap into our own emotions to show up for another person. Take a look before moving on to learn about what our research revealed about empathy.

What Did Our Research Reveal About Empathy? 

Different voices from our focus groups, including employers, educators, and post-secondary learners, revealed the various ways that they believe empathy can manifest. We have captured some of our research participants’ ideas below.

“Empathy feels comforting, like someone cares and understands your perspective and experience.”

“Empathy looks like seeing things from another’s perspective.”

“Empathy means listening with your heart.”

“Empathy can lead to a greater sense of community and make the community suitable for everyone to live in.”

“Empathy allows for learning and is vital to student success and enhances a learning environment.”

“Empathy could influence student engagement with peers and professors.”

Why Does Empathy Matter to Your Learners?

Empathy is a crucial skill to cultivate in any educational or community setting as it helps foster emotional awareness, emotional consideration, connection, and engagement with others, building inclusive spaces for learners to flourish and thrive. Research has shown that empathy plays a crucial role in social competence (Saliquist et al., 2009) and conflict resolution skills (De Wied et al., 2007). Moreover, empathy researchers have found that…

• People with higher levels of empathy are more likely to offer help to someone in need, even if it conflicts with their own self-interest (Batson & Eisenberg).
• Developing empathy helps us unlearn and reduce unconscious biases (Todd et al., 2011).
• Higher levels of empathy are associated with lower levels of bullying in school (Gordon, 2011).
• Empathy-based discipline by teachers reduces school suspensions (Okonofua et al., 2016).
• Empathy is contagious and when individuals see empathy encouraged, they are more likely to act empathically (Greater Good Science Centre, 2024).