Reflection On Empathy

Empathy gives us as clinicians the ability to understand and connect with the client’s emotions. By building a relationship with a client it gives the clinician a better perspective of the client’s thoughts and feelings. Emotions are not something you can leave at the door and pick up later, it reflects on the individual’s performance. By simply asking how their day is going can create a conversation, this way the client can express themselves and not keep their emotions bottled up. Empathy can be cognitive or emotionally based. Cognitive empathy is being able to know what another person feels and what he/she might be thinking.

What is social justice? Social justice is the distribution of human rights and equality in a community. As Derrick A. Bell states, “We live in a system that espouses merit, equality, and a level playing field, but exalts those with wealth, power, and celebrity, however gained,” (Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth). Atticus Finch shows that in a society where color determines a person’s power, equality is really what matters. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the character of Atticus to reveal her ideas about social justice.

Social justice is the even and fair distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. This means that everyone should have equal opportunities no matter their race, background or upbringing.

I had briefly met my patient during last week’s clinical rotation where I introduced myself to him, acquired the necessary vital signs assigned that day, and engaged the patient in a rather fleeting conversation. After completing our assigned rounds, I was then given a chance to look at the patient’s chart so I can gather information that would help me with my care plan documentation. Oddly enough, it was not through our brief conversation, but through those records that I was able to know him more. The patient chart had such a trove of data, enough for me to form an idea of who the patient was, that after reading through the notes I had gained a greater understanding and was able to share his feelings. The chart noted the patient’s medical

Sam Richard’s TED talk, “A Radical Experiment in Empathy,” asks the audience to step out of their comfort zone and pretend to be in the mindset of someone else. He specifically justifies the perspective of Iraq Muslims on the American military. Richards uses an imaginary story of Chinese aggression against America to widen his listeners’ awareness of their biases. The sociological symbolic interactionism provides a frame work for his argument by highlighting shared meanings of symbols in different groups, how those meanings can change with time and interaction, and the challenges these different meanings cause in interactions.

I think for someone to be successful in the healthcare field they must possess good communication skills and be able to have empathy towards their patients. You need to be able to communicate well with everyone around you to be able to help the patient. By connecting with the person you are trying to help they may open up about things that could help you treat them. Showing you care and being empathetic will also help the patient feel more comfortable with you. It is important to show empathy by talking calmly, leaning in while the patient is talking, and really showing that you care about them. I think you can look ‘fake’ when showing you are empathetic however. It is important to not take things too far or else your intentions may come across

Russia, through the American view, has grown negative direction throughout the years. Throughout the majority of my years in school, I have noticed that the main reason that people have such a negative view of Russia has to do with all the World Wars and the media. In addition, due to all the lives that were lost in war most Americans still mourn for those they lost and end up building a hate towards the enemy they saw as Russia. American fear towards Russia grew during the Cold War, especially the fear of communist spies amongst the country. An example of the terroir many Americans had towards Russia would also be the satellite Sputnik because many grew insecure and thought the Russians were spying on their privacy. Furthermore, many individuals realize that Russia has changed from its old ways, but are just fixed to the negative views of the past and

While there are many words that can be defined permanently with just one meaning, Social Justice definition goes beyond what it states. The dictionary’s defines Social Justice as “the ability people have to realize their potential in the society where they live.” However, Social Justice and what it entails for people who are interested in learning about it, and practicing it would have to dig even deeper to have a better understanding. According to Christopher Merret’s Social Justice: What Is It, Why Teach It? Social Justice “can be defined in terms of a hierarchy of four ideas. First, that the foundation of a free society is the equal worth of all citizens. Second, the argument that everyone is entitled, as a right of citizenship, to be able to meet their basic needs for income, shelter, and other necessities.” He goes on with his next idea, “Third, self-respect and equal citizenship also demand opportunities and life chances. Finally, to recognize unjust inequalities should be reduced and where possible eliminated.”

There are two senses of reality: external and internal. External reality is an observable universe, but perspectives differ and thus cause different opinions. To experience internal reality is to confuse one’s own reality with a shared reality, resulting in a loss of empathy and disregarding how others are affected. An external mindset displays an understanding of different opinions in a shared world, whereas with internal mindset a person’s devotion to a belief becomes their private world. When a person is passionate about their beliefs they tend to disregard other perspectives, or live internally. This is a common practice because, depending upon upbringing, different moral values have been instilled in the person. Typically, people will not partake in activities or actions that defy their morality, so they tend to align with others who share similar values. However, people who are unwilling to think beyond their own beliefs lose their sense of empathy. The more devoted a person is to their morals, the less empathy they might have. When we look outside ourselves to other perspectives, we can better connect to an external rather than simply an internal reality, approaching the world with an enlightened state of mind capable of both empathy and consistent growth.

If you were to ask me what empathy is, I would say that it is the most confusing concept in the nature of emotions. Empathy can be portrayed and thought of in several different forms: emotional, compassionate, and cognitive. I believe that empathy is a necessary and an important emotion for people to feel towards one and another, even if it consists of getting upset or mad due to someone else’s feelings. I personally feel empathetic for people every day because I am very interpersonal. However, the time I felt the most empathetic for someone was a few years back when my grandpa had passed away due to a stroke.

While reading chapter four, the term “empathy” caught my eye and a sparkle appeared because I tend to experience the world from others point of view. The saying, “treat others how you would like to be treated” is implanted in my brain from when I was a child. Which has helped me overcome obstacles in my adult years. I will illustrate two incidents in my life where empathy plays a major role.

Presenter Sheet; Outline • Stein, On the Problem of Empathy, ‘Foreword’ and ‘Chapter II. The Essence of Acts of Empathy’ (pp. 1-35). 1. Intro 2.

For me to lay out how I could begin developing empathy for disadvantaged groups, I must start with an understanding of what empathy is at its core. Bozarth defines empathy as, “…the ability to share the emotional experience of another, the cognitive capacity to understand it, and the ability to simultaneously regulate one’s own feelings…” (2009). The first step I must take in developing empathy for any disadvantaged group is addressing my own prejudices and biases. By working through my biases and prejudices I have a clearer path to connecting with these groups emotionally and mentally. As I enter the process of working through my own baggage, I will be able to more effectively develop empathy for a wider range of groups.

The perplexing nature of empathy regarding death is tackled in the first part of Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments. Smith explains his assertion that empathy is the result of the imagination of oneself in another’s position and suggests that this concept can be applied to the paradoxical situation of being dead. Overall context and knowledge of another’s affairs, are of importance in Smith’s argument for empathy and there is a strong focus on the individual. Smith asserts that any empathetic response, directed towards the recently deceased, is ultimately the result of fear for one’s own inevitable future. He expresses his points with uncanny descriptions and ominous scenarios, all centered around the individual, and vaguely connects

Listen attentively to what the other person is saying. This will allow you to absorb