What Is Empathy?

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February 5, 2014

a project of ServiceSpace

Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world.

- Barack Obama -

What Is Empathy?

"The term "empathy" is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. Contemporary researchers often differentiate between two types of empathy:: "Affective empathy" refers to the sensations and feelings we get in response to others' emotions; this can include mirroring what that person is feeling, or just feeling stressed when we detect another's fear or anxiety. "Cognitive empathy," sometimes called "perspective taking," refers to our ability to identify and understand other peoples' emotions." This article explains why practicing empathy is essential, and ways to cultivate it in your everyday life. { read more }