Empathy as a Communication Technique
The use of Empathy as a communication technique
The word empathy is a noun and means: Having the ability to imagine oneself in another 's place and understand the other 's feelings, desires, ideas, and actions. The use of empathy was an important part of the psychological counseling technique developed by Carl R. Rogers. (Empathy)
Carl Rogers was born January 8, 1902 in Oak Park, Illinois and lived until1987. Carl Rogers is best known for his contributions to therapy. Rogers felt that if a therapist was to be helpful that they must have three defining qualities: The first on should be Congruence, meaning, showing genuineness and honesty with the client. The second is having Empathy, meaning, having the ability to feel what the client feels and the third being Respect, meaning, acceptance, unconditional positive regard towards the client. Rogers says that these qualities are “necessary and sufficient: If the therapist shows these three qualities, the client will improve, even if no other special "techniques" are used. If the therapist does not show these three qualities, the client 's improvement will be minimal, no matter how many "techniques" are used. (Personality Theories).
Another Psychologist was Theodor Lipps. Born 1851 in Wallhalben/Palatinate, Germany and died in Munich 1914. Theodor Lipps is known as the father of the first scientific theory of Einfühlung (“feeling into,”) Lipps sees the unconscious process of Einfühlung is a natural instinct.
Today, empathy is described as an objective awareness of and insight into the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of another (including their meaning and significance). It has also been discussed in the context of emotional intelligence, which is defined as the awareness and management of emotions in self and others. (p89)
By showing empathy you are identifying with the other persons emotions. To be able to empathize with others, you must be able to feel and own your own feelings.
It is hard for a person
The word empathy is a noun and means: Having the ability to imagine oneself in another 's place and understand the other 's feelings, desires, ideas, and actions. The use of empathy was an important part of the psychological counseling technique developed by Carl R. Rogers. (Empathy)
Carl Rogers was born January 8, 1902 in Oak Park, Illinois and lived until1987. Carl Rogers is best known for his contributions to therapy. Rogers felt that if a therapist was to be helpful that they must have three defining qualities: The first on should be Congruence, meaning, showing genuineness and honesty with the client. The second is having Empathy, meaning, having the ability to feel what the client feels and the third being Respect, meaning, acceptance, unconditional positive regard towards the client. Rogers says that these qualities are “necessary and sufficient: If the therapist shows these three qualities, the client will improve, even if no other special "techniques" are used. If the therapist does not show these three qualities, the client 's improvement will be minimal, no matter how many "techniques" are used. (Personality Theories).
Another Psychologist was Theodor Lipps. Born 1851 in Wallhalben/Palatinate, Germany and died in Munich 1914. Theodor Lipps is known as the father of the first scientific theory of Einfühlung (“feeling into,”) Lipps sees the unconscious process of Einfühlung is a natural instinct.
Today, empathy is described as an objective awareness of and insight into the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of another (including their meaning and significance). It has also been discussed in the context of emotional intelligence, which is defined as the awareness and management of emotions in self and others. (p89)
By showing empathy you are identifying with the other persons emotions. To be able to empathize with others, you must be able to feel and own your own feelings.
It is hard for a person
References: The meaning of Empathy retrieved November 21, 2010 from: http://www.answers.com/topic/empathy Personality Theories retrieved November 21, 2010 from: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/rogers.html Gwen van Servellen (2009). Communication skills for the Healthcare Professional (2nd Ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers Answer retrieved December 4, 2010 from: http://widi.answers.com/Q/Difference_between_empathy_and_sympathy Gender Differences in Empathy retrieved December 6, 2010 from: http://www.shockmd.com/2010/05/03/gender-differences-in-empathy/ Self-disclosure retrieved December 6, 2010 from: