Exploring Empathy Embedded in Ethics Curricula: A Classroom Inquiry

Abstract

Empathy is considered to be a crucial ingredient in social work practice. Research on empathy is abundant although literature describing the teaching and learning of empathy, and in what contexts empathy might be taught best, is less common. The primary aim of this exploratory, classroom-based research undertaken in 2011 was to explore empathy with second year, social work students, thereby building on previous research, and linking it to education and practice. The findings suggest students may acquire a conceptual and definitional understanding of empathy by early in their course, but may need more proactive support to transform that learning into deeper empathy. A key speculation underpinning this exploratory inquiry, that cultivating empathy within an ‘ethics’ unit might prove more potent than within a ‘skills’ unit, was not supported. The need for further research into empathy, particularly cross-cultural empathy, is a recommendation of this research.

Historiography of empathy: Contributions to social work research and practice

“…Here, thematic analysis of the student’s explanations described “compassionate empathy, comparable empathy, conditional empathy, and dispassionate empathy” (Gair, 2010: 44). In a later study Gair (2011) recommended that more research was required to better understand empathy and its place in social work.…”

“…There is general agreement that empathy is important to practice, with research evidence suggesting that empathic practice has a positive therapeutic effect, leading to improved client outcomes (Cournoyer, 2011). Gair (2011) asserts that “empathy is considered to be a crucial ingredient in social work practice” (p. 329). Despite the strong attachment that social work has to the concept of empathy, there appears to be multiple definitions and little consensus for the term (Lanzoni, 2018).…”

Epistemic empathy in childrearing and education

“…Thus, from a feminist perspective, Tong (1997) explores empathy as an epistemic skill in professional health care provision and practice. Gair (2011) is concerned with the cognitive and experiential role empathy can play in social work contexts. She draws on Stein's work on 'deep listening' and establishes links with the concept and process of mindfulness 5 : 'deeper listening facilitated through mindfulness approaches, in a way that incorporated deep learning models, may prove successful in cultivating greater empathy ' (2011, 338, 339).…”