What Is It?

Empathy is the quality of being in tune with the emotions of others. Sometimes the term empathy refers to the ability to imagine and understand how other people might be thinking or feeling (what researchers call cognitive empathy or perspective-taking); other times it indicates the capacity to sense others’ emotions and experience feelings that mirror theirs (referred to as emotional or affective empathy).

A white teacher whose racial and economic background differs from most of his students recognizes that his ability to empathize with his students may be limited. To grow his empathy, he takes the time to get to know his students on a personal basis by asking them about their interests, their families, their hopes and dreams. He also makes an effort to spend time in the community where students live, which helps him to question his assumptions about his students, and ultimately see the tremendous strengths that they are bringing to the classroom.

Though empathy alone does not guarantee positive behavior—in fact, if other social-emotional skills are lacking, empathy can be overwhelming and counterproductive—it is often considered a vital foundation of morality and prosocial (kind and helpful) action. Empathy is what enables us to extend beyond our own point of view and truly care for each other.

Why Is It Important?

Because it helps us understand the perspectives, needs, and intentions of others, empathy is a building block of morality and a key ingredient of successful relationships.

Empathy makes us more altruistic.

 

Empathy helps us live longer.

  • Because it encourages us to do things for the sake of others, empathy may promote longevity.

 

Empathy creates bridges between people.

 

Empathy brings us closer to others.

 

Empathy cultivates positive teacher-student relationships.

 

Empathy improves school success.

Practices

Level
Duration
Sort by
Clear
Build positive relationships with students in 2 minutes a day.
PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
≤ 15 minutes
Teachers and students create a safe space to develop strong relationships.
PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
≤ 15 minutes
Acknowledge the faces of everyone in your classroom or meeting to deepen a sense of group connection.
High School, College, Adult
≤ 15 minutes
Foster our shared humanity by reflecting on the human life cycle.
High School, College, Adult
≤ 30 minutes
Create class community by brainstorming ways to stop put-downs.
Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
≤ 1 hour
A tool for fostering a supportive and equitable classroom and school environment and for promoting SEL.
PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adult
A quick welcoming activity in which everyone’s voice is heard and valued
Adult
≤ 15 minutes
“Empathy is about finding echoes of yourself in another person.”
–Mohsin Hamid
Enroll in one of our online courses

Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!