Often we do not think about the psychological component of our behavior and emotions. Some of them seem to us absolutely normal. Thus, the ability to empathize with other people in a difficult situation may seem natural to the outside, but this fact has a scientific explanation, and knowing what empathy is, one can more deeply understand a person, his emotions and feelings .
Empathy - what is it?
Nowadays, you can hear the word more often, but few know what empathy is. This term does not mean a specific act in the comprehension of experiences - it is a complex set of gestures, words, feelings, emotions, talking about this action. Empathy is the ability of a person to understand events occurring with a person and, if necessary, empathize with them. And such actions occur absolutely consciously.
What is empathy in psychology?
When using the term in question, there are some nuances. So, empathy in psychology is a natural manifestation of one's emotions in empathy. For each person has its own level of such perception - from complete dissolution in the human problem to a mean expression of emotions. Often, empathy in psychology is manifested as a reflection of the feelings and feelings of the partner, and, as a rule, arises from the perception of external signs of the manifestation of emotions - gestures, conversation, deeds.
What is empathy in pedagogy?
It should be noted that empathy in pedagogy is of no small importance. Teachers or educators are to some extent psychologists. Between the teacher and students it is important to establish a type of psychological interaction that will be suitable for both sides. In this case, empathy is the ability of the teacher to understand, and in some cases predict, the mental state and emotional mood of the child.
This is important in a situation where the teacher sees the talent and abilities of the student and gives him more challenging tasks, helps him feel more confident when answering the board - asks suggestive questions, at the appropriate moment can praise or scold the schoolboy. Naturally, you can not go over the established boundaries between the teacher and the student - parents should be more serious about parenting, and excessive emotionality or empathy can damage the learning process.
Empathy - is it good or bad?
A similar feeling is characteristic of almost all living beings, and man is no exception. The peculiarity is that everyone experiences a different level of perceived sensation. Someone can react sharply to any manifestation of feelings of another person and empathize with him - this will be a high level of empathy, and for someone there will be not a few good words or deeds without violent emotions and cries.
The first option can sometimes negatively affect the mental state of such an emotional interlocutor. Sometimes it is difficult for him to abstract himself from the experiences of another person - it can go into a phobia or mental disorder, but in the absence of a loop on his feelings the people begin to better understand people. The lack of empathy can affect the relationship of the individual with society. He will be called cold or callous, and sometimes he is reproached for the impossibility of experiencing with others.
Regardless of different situations and circumstances, the golden mean is important. In the modern world, with its vanity, the frequent substitution of moral values and the frenzied rhythm of life, it is extremely important to remain a person. The ability to empathize and not be indifferent in some cases will be appropriate, and its extreme degrees of manifestation can negatively affect the person himself.
Empathy and sympathy - the difference
The concepts of empathy and sympathy, it would seem, are the same, but the meaning embedded in them still has differences. For empathy it is characteristic to merge with the emotions of another person, trying on them, but not participating in them, and for sympathy - the manifestation of attention to the individual, his problem or emotions, perhaps some involvement, and most importantly - the transfer of such feelings to their skin .
What is the difference between empathy and reflection?
The terms empathy and reflection differ from a psychological point of view. For the second concept, experience and reflection about one's own feelings and emotions are inherent, the study of the inner psychology of the individual . In some cases, it will be a reassessment of values, thinking, decision-making. Unlike empathy - the perception of the emotions of other people, this concept refers to the experiences of the person himself, and not of another person.
Types of empathy
Knowing what empathy is, you can understand some of its features. So, there is an opinion of highlighting the individual components of the word under consideration - empathy and empathy. In the first case it is a kind of manifestation of one's emotional reaction in response to human experiences. Empathy is a psychological opportunity to absorb the same emotions and sensations that another individual experiences.
As a rule, the manifestation of empathy can be divided into three groups:
- Cognitive - which includes intellectual processes - analogy or comparison;
- emotional - which consists in imitating some of the reactions of a person;
- predicative - a feature of which in the possibility of predicting various reactions to what is happening.
Level of empathy
In the development of this feeling, there are three main levels:
- The first or the lowest level of empathy is characterized by the concentration of the individual on himself and his cares, the lack of interest in the lives of friends or colleagues. For such people it can be difficult to maintain a conversation or take part in social activities.
- The second level is the ability to empathize with other people at some moments, and sometimes be indifferent to other people's concerns or troubles. This group includes the public, who rarely show their emotions. More often it remains reasonable and calm.
- The third level is often characteristic of emotional and receptive people, there are few of them, but they are able to perfectly understand and feel others. These are the best friends, sincere, able in any situation to get into the essence of the matter and find suitable words and solutions, but sometimes they are based only on feelings.
How to develop empathy?
There are some points that can develop a sense of empathy, or at least be useful for a deeper understanding of this issue. Some of the tips are highlighted by those that talk about studying the personality - its behavior, emotions, reactions to various factors or irritants. What is empathy and how to develop it:
- Listen to your interlocutor - this method promotes the awakening of emotions and a better understanding of your partner.
- Pay attention to the surrounding people in different situations and try to understand what they think, what kind of jobs they are, what territorial position they belong to.
- Start talking with people you do not know: in a minibus with a fellow traveler, while traveling by train or in the subway. Curiosity is one of the tools for developing empathy.
- Put yourself in the shoes of another person to consider any issues from the other side. As a subject for taking over, one can turn to psychological films whose heroes are in a desperate situation. Try to understand how to act in this or that situation.
- Develop skills to determine your own emotions and feelings, engage in the development of emotional memory.
Exercises for the development of empathy
There are two simple and effective exercises that stand out from the set, capable of developing empathy in a short time:
- Phone . The essence of this method is that you use mimicry and gestures to represent an object or topic of conversation, and others should guess what is at stake.
- "Mirror and Monkey" One of the favorite children's games, but it also helps to reveal the emotional state of an adult and get into a comfortable zone. For this exercise, get a companion, stand in front of the partner and with the help of gesticulations show different feelings, then change with fellow places and repeat the same actions. This will help you to understand the emotional state and feelings of people around you.
How to manage empathy?
Often a person who sees in himself some of the properties of the empath is difficult to cope with. Excessive experiences for strangers and strong empathy do not always benefit. In such cases, it is important to show the ability to manage this state - letting go of the situation, relaxing and distracting yourself to another business. More time spent with loved ones or hobbies. Perhaps it's worth thinking about your experiences and problems that are not related to other individuals. You can not forget about your health.
How to get rid of empathy?
Often the cause of human anxiety is hypertrophied empathy. This problem can cause difficulties in communicating with people. To get rid of it it is possible by controlling the considered feeling and your emotions, switching to your own worries and hobbies. It is important to enjoy the communication with a person, to find positive moments in it. Empathy is the ability to empathize with a person, to feel it, so it is worth considering that a complete escape from such a feeling can lead to rejection from the society and contribute to a closure in oneself.