8 Empathy and Respect
Empathy
Empathy has a number of definitions, but it can be simply described as the ability to appreciate, and respond to, the feelings of others. Common metaphors for empathy (literally ‘feeling into’ or ‘suffering with’) are ‘walking in another’s shoes’, or perhaps more accurately ‘seeing through another’s eyes’. Empathy is distinct from the related emotional reactions of sympathy (‘feeling for’) and compassion (‘noticing suffering in another coupled with a wish to alleviate it’). Empathy involves both emotional and cognitive processes and is considered a key part of emotional intelligence (EI). EI describes the capacity to recognize the emotions of self and others and respond accordingly, such as tailoring behavior and communication style. Mercer & Reynolds1 describe empathy as: “the ability to identify an individual’s unique situation (perspective, opinions, ideas, and feelings); to communicate that understanding back to the individual and to act on that understanding in a helpful way”
Respect
Communicating genuine empathy allows the other person to feel respected, accepted, and understood. Empathy is key to establishing both trust and respect, which can be defined as showing due regard for the feelings, needs, or rights of others. Respectful communication validates the basic dignity and worth of others, without necessarily endorsing their views or beliefs.
How are empathy and respect perceived?
Perceived by you:
- You actively listen to others’ feelings, perspectives, and concerns
- You find it easy to read other people’s emotions
- You respond to emotional cues
- You can respond to others’ emotions helpfully, without feeling burdened by them yourself
- You maintain respectful relationships, even when you disagree with people
Perceived by others:
- High emotional intelligence
- A ‘people person’
- Gentle, caring, compassionate
- A good listener
- Approachable, with open body language
- Takes a genuine interest in others
- Non-judgmental and respectful of diversity
Possible strategies to enhance your empathy and respect
Practice active listening: Ask about, and take into account, the concerns, needs and views of clients. Try to mindfully focus on their response, rather than your own thoughts.
Look out for emotional cues: Body language, eye contact and the ways in which clients bring up concerns can all hint at how they are feeling and allow you to respond accordingly.
Pay attention to your well-being: Looking after your own well-being can help you to maintain your empathy with clients, patients and colleagues.
Use appropriate language: Practice using empathic statements to offer reflection or legitimization of the client’s feelings; this promotes support of, partnership with, and respect for clients.
WATCH AND REFLECT ACTIVITY
As you watch the videos below, answer the following questions:
- Describe a time that you witnessed (or experienced) something other than respect and empathy – perhaps you witness/experienced advice-giving, blame, ignorance, or problem-solving.
- Rewrite that scene with the same characters, but different words and actions that reflect respect and empathy. Be as descriptive as you can.
References:
1. Mercer, S.W. & Reynolds, W.J. (2002) Empathy and quality of care. British Journal of General Practice 52: S9-13
adapted from VetSetGo Project This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
