Empathy is the ability to feel or understand what someone else is feeling. This is life skill that is practiced daily in the home, school, workplace, church, and community. The Second Step Program research indicates that...

• Being able to feel or understand what another person is feeling prepares students to manage their own strong emotions and solve interpersonal problems with others.

• Skills for identifying emotions in ourselves and others, labeling these emotions, and taking the perspective of others can be taught.

• Empathy skills are the basis for helpful and socially responsible behavior. It leads to compassion. Having empathy is also related to academic success.