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).
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.
A student invites a new student to play with him at recess because he imagines how difficult it must be for the new student to feel comfortable at his new school.
A preschooler starts to cry when one of her classmates gets hurt because she, too, feels emotional pain at witnessing another’s distress.
Although empathy increases on average as children get older and better able to understand others’ perspectives, even toddlers under two years old can respond empathetically, showing that it is never too early to focus on cultivating empathy. In early adolescence, empathy may decrease, especially for those considered different than the self, but it tends to rebound after that.
Why Is It Important?
Because it helps students understand the perspectives, needs, and intentions of others, empathy is a building block of morality and a key ingredient of successful relationships in school and beyond.
Empathy encourages kind, helpful behavior.
- More empathetic children are more likely to show prosocial behavior, such as sharing, helping, and comforting others.
Empathy creates a safer school culture.
- Increased empathy can decrease bullying and aggression among kids and make them kinder and more inclusive toward classmates.
Empathy fosters positive student relationships.
- Children who show more empathy are more popular with their peers. (In adolescence, though, this may be more true for girls than for boys.)
Empathy leads to school success.
- Students who are empathetic are more cooperative in class, have better relationships with their teachers, and are more engaged in school.
- Students with more empathy tend to have higher GPAs and, eventually, greater success in college.
Practices
![Students think about the factors that encourage and discourage people to act when they confront suffering or injustice.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/From_Sympathy_to_Action_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
From Sympathy to Action
![Students mentally send good wishes to someone who is important to them.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Loving_Kindness_for_Someone_You_Care_About_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Loving-Kindness for Someone You Care About
![In a group meeting, students share their feelings while also building their feelings vocabulary and emotion knowledge.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Feelings_Circle_SEL_Kernels_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Feelings Circle: An SEL Kernels Practice for Kindergarten
![Members of the classroom or meeting stand and respectfully acknowledge each person in the group.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/I_See_You_Everyone_Matters_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
I See You. Everyone Matters.
![Students extend kindness to themselves and others.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Loving-Kindness-Buddy-Wishes-1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Loving-Kindness Buddy Wishes
![Delivering groceries to an elderly neighbor is an example of a prosocial action.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Encouraging-Prosocial-Actions-in-Students-1410x820-495x270.jpg)
Encouraging Prosocial Actions in Students
![Students send kindness and good wishes to others.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Wishes_for_the_World_1117x600-495x270.jpg)
Wishes for the World: A Loving-kindness Activity
![A boy reads a book next to rows of bookshelves](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Fostering_Empathy_Through_Literature_Elementary_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Fostering Empathy Through Literature (Elementary Level)
![Pages of a book folded to form a heart](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Fostering_Empathy_Through_Literature_MS_and_HS_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Fostering Empathy Through Literature (Middle School & High School)
![Students draw and write about ways they have acted with kindness towards others.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Acts_of_Kindness_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Acts of Kindness
![Students learn how kindness and gratitude strengthen friendships through reading a book.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/What_Friends_Do_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
What Friends Do
![Students get a secret kindness buddy to do a kind act for during the week.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Kindness_Buddy_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Kindness Buddy
![Students identify emotions related to gratitude.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Feelings_of_Gratitude_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Feelings of Gratitude
![Students reflect on why another person acted kindly towards them, and practice gratitude both verbally & in writing.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Expressing_Gratitude_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Expressing Gratitude
![Students learn to say “thank you” in American Sign Language and brainstorm non-verbal ways to express gratitude.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Another_Way_of_Saying_Thanks_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Another Way of Saying Thanks
![Students deepen their understanding of gratitude by “embodying” it.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Gratitude_Mirror_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Gratitude Mirror
![Students identify what gets in the way of expressing gratitude.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/What_Really_Matters_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
What Really Matters
![Students learn that when someone does something kind, it takes time and effort.](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Making_a_Difference_1340x720-495x270.jpg)
Making a Difference
![Enroll in one of our online courses](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Online_Course_Announcement_1200x800-495x265.jpg)
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