What is EMPATHY in psychology

Empathy is a virtue. Put simply, it is about the ability that some people have to put themselves in the place of others. A very characteristic expression of this psychological phenomenon is called "putting on someone else's shoes".

Next, in the following Psychology-Online article we will talk about what is empathy in psychology, we will list the main characteristics of empathic people, we will indicate why it is really important to have and develop this ability and, to finish, we will present three typical examples in which empathy shows its great virtues.

Index

1. Meaning of empathy in Psychology
2. Characteristics of empathic people
3. Why is empathy important in psychology?
4. examples of empathy in psychology

Empathy in psychology refers to ability to put yourself in the place of others. It is a set of skills that allow the person who possesses them, or who is interested in developing them, to experience what the other person is experiencing at a specific moment.

Empathy occurs when, faced with a specific situation that has occurred to a third person, we are able to acknowledge what this person is feeling as a result of that experience. In this way, we can put ourselves in the place of this third person and share their experience of joy, sadness, fear, etc. In this way, we can come to understand the deep meaning of their response to the situation experienced.

Empathetic people are characterized by having the following traits and abilities:

• They have an open heart: which allows them to understand the emotional consequences that situations generate in their neighbors.
• They are able to defend the affected people: they deeply understand the reason that leads them to react as they do. Their defense is not aggressive, but totally assertive, since they do not intend to convince anyone of anything. Rather, they try to convey the true meaning of what the affected person is experiencing, in an attempt to generate compassion in less empathetic people.
• They can accompany emotionally in an enriching way: They understand what people are experiencing and are able to glimpse what they need at that moment.
• Calm, soothe and cheer to the people accompanying
• They are very lively people that work according to the lived experiences that happen around them and react soberly to them.

In short, empathic people are characterized by being cheerful, with great vital strength, humble and compassionate. Like little guardian angels that accompany people, strengthening and enriching them to feed the best that lives within each one of them. Still, there is no one way to be an empath. Next, we show you the types of empathy that exist with examples.

Empathy is a very valuable ability because it brings many benefits on a personal level but, above all, on a social level. Next, we will see what is the importance of empathy in psychology:

• It allows us to be able to put ourselves in the place of the other person and offer you what you need at that particular moment.
• Unites people and strengthens them, feeling understood in their situation and accompanied in their experience.
• Prevent possible conflicts for lack of understanding, by making the different positions understandable.
• Lets be a role model for others cordial and respectful behavior.
• Empathy is, in itself, a great food of compassionfundamental value of human beings. In this article you will find information about what is compassion and how to develop it.

Thus, when we talk about empathy in psychology, we refer to a very valuable ability because it gives place to peaceful relations of cordial union and mutual understanding, a very necessary aspect in societies current. find out then how to practice empathy in my life.

To finish, we will discuss three examples of empathy in psychology that can happen to anyone on a daily basis.

• Dispute between two people: the empathic person can mediate in the conflict showing those involved the vision and experience of the other person, so that, by putting yourself in their place and understanding their situation, the offensive attitude adopted totally loses its meaning. The goal is to prioritize the search for a solution that benefits both people.
• When a person experiences a loss of a loved one, a separation or divorce, the loss of a job, losing custody of the children, etc. The empathic person will accompany the person affected by the loss during the mourning period to, later, nurture her inner strength to help her move forward, leaving behind, as part of a past, the loss suffered.
• In a situation of celebration and joy For some news or positive experience, the empathic person is able to accompany with sincere joy the state experienced by their partner. Although it seems something simple to do, due to all our emotional deficiencies, in many occasions, we are not able to truly rejoice in states of happiness and bliss foreign Being able to manage to share this joy is a sign of high levels of empathy.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is empathy in psychology, we recommend that you enter our category of Emotions.

• Breithaupt, F. (2011). cultures of empathy. Katz Publishers.
• Carpena, A. (2016). empathy is possible. Publisher Desclee de Brouwer.