What is exactly empathy? Over 200 years have passed since thinking people began attempting to comprehend the general phenomena in which one person changes their ideas or feelings as a result of observing another. The question is “Is being empathic going to do any good to you?”. The answer to this can be very subjective for some yes some no. I believe being empathic is easy, it’s as easy as listening to your friends yapping sessions or smiling at a stranger.
Giving a glass of water to the delivery person in hot summers or warming up the meal to a tired friend who returned after work. Isn’t it what we all do? Our needs, to be heard, seen and fulfilled? The joy after you help someone is surreal, sometimes breathtaking. Or as the phrase says Life isn’t about the amount of breaths you take, it’s about the moments that take your breath away. It’s simple: You can be empathetic without getting used or manipulated.
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These emotions, understanding, and observing each other make us human. Maintaining a balanced approach is the key, you can separate your emotions from the empathetic ones. Identify what drains you, being empathetic doesn’t mean going hard on yourself just to be kind to others. So there are 4 ways of being empathetic: firstly observe, secondly ask, third and lastly listen to feedback and let the feedback be a reminder for subsequent action. In the end, empathy enriches our lives, it makes us more compassionate and connected to others. There are several contributors to empathy Genetic Factors, Neurodevelopmental Factors, Temperament, Facial Mimicry and Imitation, Parenting and Parent-Child Relationship Quality.
According to Clinical Psychologist Nidhi Singh Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Lacking empathy can stem from various factors such as lack of self-awareness wherein struggling with one’s own emotions can make it harder to understand others. A lot of times occurrence of traumatic events can also lead to emotional numbing. Another potential factor could be somebody struggling with mental and neurological conditions like autism, personality disorders and depression. Research suggests that it is linked to specific brain regions and neurotransmitters. Lastly, certain upbringings and environments such as childhood devoid of emotional Support validation can affect empathy..
The biological foundation of empathy
What is one factor that makes a person empathetic? There is no fixed answer, but several contributors to the palate of empathy. Biology is one of them, through centuries and evolutionary perspective empathy has been a trait to accentuate social cohesion and cooperation. Neurotransmitters and hormones also carry the groundwork for the development of empathy Oxytocin commonly called the “love hormone” improves the capacity to understand and notice other people’s feelings and emotions and form empathetic understanding. Other hormones like dopamine and Serotonin have their way to increase and regulate empathy. Other aspects such as brain’s part-anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala.
Psychological Perspectives on Empathy
From a psychological perspective, we have sophisticated decisions of empathy. Emotional Empathy, Cognitive Empathy and Empathic Concern are components of Empathy. Emotional Empathy is sharing the emotional stares of others, for example your friend gets a promotion and they are on top of the world, you might genuinely feel happy for them and celebrate their success with them. Cognitive Empathy is understanding other people’s intentions and thoughts like if your friend didn’t crack that job promotion, so understand that they are frustrated and you give the patience and time they need. lastly, Empathetic concern stands for having concerns and intentions of helping them. For example, if your friends are not able to cope with their jobs, listening to their problems or helping them with daily tasks can alleviate their burden.
According to Clinical Psychologists Manik Bhadkamkar Being an empath and a narcissist are polar opposite qualities of a person. Usually, people need to balance their involvement with themselves and with others for better social adjustment. However, these concepts talk about two imbalanced ways of either being too involved with oneself (narcissistic) or too involved with others (an empath). A person with narcissistic traits can go to the extreme of self-love at the cost of ignoring other’s needs or rights. On the other hand, a person who is an empath can go to lengths to understand others and may get completely involved in their emotions or experiences even if it leads to them compromising on their own needs. Being an empath, on the surface can feel like a good quality, however, due to its extremity it takes a lot of toll on the person and usually is an unhealthy trait to have. Also, it is important to note that Narcissism is a part of clinical diagnosis and the terms should not be used lightly to describe behaviours of others that are unfavourable to us.
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Empathy in Health and Education
Does Empathy only help in social relationships or does it have any impact on our physical health? According to studies, it reduces our stress levels. A study suggested that patients who received empathetic behaviour recovered fast as compared to those who did not receive any. In an educational setting, empathy can create an environment of inclusivity and positivity. Students will feel valued, recognised, and supported if the teacher demonstrates towards them. It should be built within students since early classes so they grow holistically. Differentiated instruction, where teachers practice their teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of each student, is a practice rooted in empathy. By understanding students’ learning styles and challenges, teachers can provide more effective and meaningful instruction.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age
In this digital world now you can send a heartwarming message to your friends who live abroad and are going through a rough patch. Now you can video chat and be a part of different support groups on different continents, but are as same as face-to-face interactions. This texting has stripped off that warmth of a hug or that hand-holding. The digital age has revolutionized the way we connect, offering new opportunities to express empathy and support across vast distances. However, it also presents unique challenges that can impact the depth and quality of empathetic interactions. As we navigate this complex landscape, it’s crucial to understand both the benefits and limitations of digital communication in fostering empathy.
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Empathy is our connection to humanity, an integral part of our life and it is important to understand its pieces how it is developed and increased and what are its sources. You can bring a smile to one’s lips with your acts of empathy. So, today try to do a little act of empathy to get a curve on your lips and on others.
