Topic: A Clearer Empathy Definition for a Stronger Empathy Movement
Speaker: Johanna (Jodie) Madsen Jensen (15 min)
Bio: Johanna (Jodie) Jensen is an empathy researcher at Brigham Young University. She is pursuing a doctorate degree in social psychology and studies empathy in the broader context of positive psychology and character development. (LinkedIn) (Facebook)
Topic: A Clearer Empathy Definition for a Stronger Empathy Movement
Abstract: Empathy is a widely held cultural value. However, due to divergent definitions of empathy, recent critics have called empathy dangerous and toxic. Empathy advocates are left baffled by this outcry, wondering how anyone could criticize a practice that has such obvious relational benefits. As we work together to build an empathy movement, we must first seek to understand the perspective of those who oppose the movement. In this talk, we will dig into the various definitions of empathy to discover why this disconnect exists. We will then discuss how we can use this understanding to invite the critics to see the value of the holistic empathy model we promote. Finally, we will discuss the need for a clear, simple definition of the holistic empathy model that can be broadly accepted and operationalized.
https://otter.ai/u/u_iP52PIwCQDYtJVZs5tUB6l31A?view=summary
Jodie Jensen, an empathy researcher at Brigham Young University, discussed the complexity and importance of defining empathy. She highlighted the diverse definitions in psychology, ranging from intellectual perspective-taking to emotional understanding and neural resonance. Jensen emphasized the need for a clear definition to strengthen the empathy movement. She shared her personal journey and the challenges of defining empathy, noting the influence of terms like "Einfühlung" and the I-Thou relationship. Jensen proposed a broader definition of empathy as a way of being in relationship with life, emphasizing presence, deep listening, and care. She invited further collaboration to refine this definition.
[ ] Reach out to Jodie Jensen to continue the discussion on the definitions of empathy.
[ ] Explore the concept of the "I-Thou" relationship and how it relates to empathy.
[ ] Review the definition of empathy proposed by Edwin Rutsch, which Jodie shared.
Speaker 1 introduces Jodie Jensen, highlighting her role as an empathy researcher at Brigham Young University and her doctorate in social psychology.
Jodie Jensen expresses her excitement about the topic and mentions her upcoming conference, encouraging continued collaboration on the definition of empathy.
Jodie asks participants to share their one-sentence definitions of empathy in the chat and requests permission to share her screen for a presentation.
Participants share their definitions, including terms like "connecting over the screen," "attunement to someone's experience," and "active listening."
Jodie shares her background, mentioning her nine-month collaboration with Edwin to define empathy.
She recounts her personal journey as a teenager and young adult, feeling deeply moved by the suffering of others and wanting to help overcome inequality.
Jodie displays a picture that evokes strong emotions in her and encourages participants to tune in to their own feelings.
She reads more definitions from the chat, including "seeing the world through someone else's eyes" and "mutual emotional connection."
Jodie discusses different definitions of empathy from the literature, including intellectual perspective-taking, emotionally reactive processes, and emotion contagion.
She mentions various perspectives on empathy, such as active listening, vulnerability, and neural resonance.
Jodie highlights the three-pronged approach in empathy literature: cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and empathic concern (compassion).
She notes the confusion and lack of consensus in defining empathy, citing a study by Stossic and colleagues that shows 50% of studies do not define empathy consistently.
Jodie discusses the challenges of defining empathy, including the influence of different disciplines and the lack of consistent operationalization.
She mentions the term "Einfühlung" from aesthetics, which poses problems when applied to empathy in psychology.
Jodie explains how Einfuhlung inflates the self and diminishes the other, leading to a misunderstanding of empathy.
She highlights the divide among researchers and activists, with some seeing empathy as harmful and others advocating for a revised definition.
Jodie discusses the vocal opposition to empathy by some active discontents, who label it as suicidal, toxic, or a sin.
She questions why there is a disconnect between the general public's positive view of empathy and the negative views of some activists.
Jodie explains how Einfuhlung's egoistic approach has led to a misunderstanding of empathy's true value.
She emphasizes the need to address the deeper problem of how we see other human beings, advocating for an "I-Thou" relationship instead of objectification.
Jodie introduces Martin Buber's concept of the I-Thou relationship, which focuses on the space between two people rather than the self.
She explains how this relationship can help overcome the problems of objectification and subjective representation in empathy.
Jodie highlights the importance of viewing others as equal to ourselves, which can lead to a shared cultural value of empathy.
She concludes by sharing Edwin's broad definition of empathy as a way of being in relationship with life, emphasizing presence, deep listening, openness, and care.
Jodie thanks the participants and expresses her desire to continue the conversation offline.
She provides her email address for further discussion and encourages participants to reach out to her.
Speaker 1 thanks Jodie for the insightful talk and expresses excitement about exploring the operational applications of empathy.
The meeting concludes with a reminder to reach out to Jodie for more discussions on empathy and the relationship of self with others.