Empathy, Three Ways
Empathy Symbol image retrieved from http://www.empathysymbol.com/ Leveraging Empathy: A Call to Connect We have a moral and ethical responsibility to build meaningful connections with others. At the heart of this work lies empathy —the capacity to understand, share, and respond to the emotions of others. But empathy is more than just a feeling; it's a skill we can learn, refine, and intentionally practice. What Is Empathy? Empathy describes our ability to sense and relate to the emotions and perspectives of others. According to researchers (Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley), empathy takes on three distinct forms : Cognitive Empathy The ability to understand how someone feels and what they might be thinking. It’s useful for communication, leadership, and navigating conflict—but without emotional resonance, it can come off as cold or manipulative. Emotional (or Affective) Empathy The ability to physically and emotionally feel what someone else is experienc...
