(1 minute read)
Nursing scholar, Dr Teresa Wiseman, has helped clarify the 4 key attributes of empathy, which is too often confused with sympathy.
“Empathy fuels connection, while sympathy drives disconnection.”
Dr Brene Brown
1. Taking on someone else’s perspective.
When you share or take on the perspective of another person, you must also be able to recognise someone else’s perspective as truth.
2. Being non-judgmental.
When we judge another person’s situation, we discount their experience. Therefore, to take on the perspective of another person, you must put away your own thoughts, assumptions, and biases.
3. Recognising someone else’s emotion or understanding their feelings.
Recognising and understanding someone else’s emotions requires you to be in touch with your own feelings and to put yourself aside so that you can focus on the person in distress.
4. Communicating your understanding of a person’s feelings.
It is important to not only express your understanding of someone’s emotions or feelings, but to also validate them. Validating someone’s feelings demonstrates that you accept, acknowledge, and understand them.
Dr Wiseman outlines the following strategies to help build empathy.
- Model emotions, feelings, and ways to show compassion.
- Read, and share stories, including those that embrace diversity and differences.
- Consider other people’s perspectives, and talk about differences and biases (race, gender, identity, religion, etc.).
- Fight stereotypes.
- Aim to name your emotions and give words to feelings.