Can you train empathy

Take a Quiz: This short one helps shine on a light on your privileges. Other researchers have also made lists of questions and activities that can help you understand your privilege. To start, ask yourself a few questions:. Thomas said. It can be as simple as having lunch with a colleague and asking about their routines, she said. Perhaps they never feel heard in meetings, or struggle to find a time and place to pump breast milk during the day.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is step aside and create a space for those outside your group to speak. People who read literary fiction performed better on tests of empathy and emotional intelligence afterward.

Choose novels with narrators who have lives and backgrounds unlike yours, or who live in a different place or time. Choose diverse authors, too. One place to start: The National Book Awards finalists for fiction.

Here are the titles of those:. Read about the lives, struggles and fights against oppression of different groups of people — in history books and essay collections and newspapers.

Read and watch first-person accounts of the experiences of others in magazines and newspapers, on social media and in podcasts and documentaries. For example, it includes a series of first-person documentaries about race in which people from a variety of backgrounds talk about their experiences. But there are ways parents and caregivers can teach empathy.

Parents and caregivers can also use books to discuss issues like discrimination. A membership with the Little Feminist book club sends books, along with activities and discussion questions, for talking about gender equality and diversity with girls and boys. Many parents, especially those who are white, try to avoid talking about race, gender identity, income level or other differences among people, believing that if they expose their children to diversity without making a big deal about it, their children will grow up without prejudice.

Even preschoolers see differences — and also hold biases. For families of color, these conversations often start much earlier by necessity, said Dawn Dow, a sociologist at the University of Maryland who studies race and family. Have the hard discussions , researchers say. Bring up topics like race. Dow said. She gave as examples the Nick Jr. Children who have those open, honest conversations with their parents are better able to recognize the structural inequalities that exist in our society.

Researchers say children are aware of stereotypes by age 3. First and foremost, empathy helps you establish and build social connections with others. Having a social support network is in and of itself beneficial. Research has found that having social relationships is linked to many aspects of health and wellness, as emotional support is an important protective factor when dealing with stress.

It also curbs loneliness, reducing the risks of health problems including cardiovascular disease, decreased immunity and depression. This is especially noticeable in professions centred around helping others, such as healthcare, education, human resources and social work, where one interacts with many individuals daily from all walks of life. Being sensitive towards the emotions and perspectives of others allows those working in these fields to be more effective at their jobs.

Doctors and nurses who practice empathy towards patients are more likely to develop an emotional connection with them. In education, an empathetic teacher will be able to foster a safe, caring and inclusive classroom environment that is conducive to learning.

Moreover, empathetic teachers are able to instil this value and skill in their students, setting them up for future success. Not all of us are born natural empaths. Most individuals will learn empathy while growing up through observing the interactions of those around them. Some people are genetically inclined to be highly empathic or not. But, generally, we develop empathy as children , primarily through observing how others show it. We may be on the receiving end of expressions of empathy and come to value it for the emotional benefits it had for us.

Then we may show empathy ourselves and receive a positive response, such as praise or a smile, that reinforces our actions. Some children are more fortunate than others with the number of episodes of empathy they observe and responses they receive for showing it.

To actively teach children empathy , parents can explain their own emotions during significant events. They can also discuss the emotions of the child as well as those of others. They can point out the connection between events and emotions. Parents can model empathy by showing it when the child has a strong emotion, whether fear, surprise or something else. Many parents, health-care professionals, teachers, work supervisors and romantic partners would likely benefit from higher levels of empathy.

As would anyone low in empathy for whatever reason. Researchers have examined whether it is possible to increase cognitive, emotional and behavioural empathy through formal training. The methods used to teach someone to be more empathic are in many ways similar to those used to teach a new dance or how to give a good public speech. Training typically includes four elements.

The first part usually involves instruction about the benefits of showing empathy, how to identify emotions in others, how to feel those emotions and how to comment appropriately on them. Next comes providing models of a person showing empathy in response to something another has said or done. The models can be live, on video or audio, or written. Last Updated: April 5, References.

With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 33, times. Empathy is one of the most important social skills you can have. Understanding and showing concern for others helps to build bridges, resolve conflicts, and deepen your interpersonal relationships.

If this happens, start by role-playing active listening skills with them and showing them how to better tune in to others around them. Also, you can teach others to be empathetic by practicing empathy yourself, so take time to be attentive and show compassion for others. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article.

We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Method 1. Practice listening without interrupting. If a person rushes to respond or share their own opinions, they stand in the way of empathy.

Hold mock conversations in which one person talks while the other person hears them out completely. The listener should be trying their best to understand what the other person is saying, not simply listening to reply. Paraphrase what others say to verify understanding. Those learning empathy need feedback to determine if they understand others' messages during communication. Saying what the person said back to them in a different way helps them double-check that they got the right message.

Is that right? Paraphrasing can also be taught in practice situations to help them feel confident doing it in real-life conversations.