SEC: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

ASSIGNMENT- 2
Kanak Chopra
PSY/21/20
Q. What is empathy? How can empathy enhance our EI. (10)
Introduction
Empathy is the "capacity" to share and understand another’s "state of mind" or emotion. It
is often characterized as the ability to “put oneself into another’s shoes”, or in some way
experience the outlook or emotions of another being within oneself.
Daniel Goleman describes empathy as being able to sense what others are feeling, to use
that information to have effective relationships. According to Daniel Goleman, empathy
requires attention. In his book Focus, he explains how empathy is a form of focusing on—
turning your attention toward—others.
Empathy is tuning into others and feeling as they feel, which is a crucial skill in social
connection. It refers to understanding a person from his or her frame of reference rather
than one’s own, or vicariously experiencing that person’s feelings, perceptions, and
thoughts.
“Empathy is the ability to step outside of your own bubble and into the bubbles of other people.” – C.
Joybell
It is a term coined in the early 20th century, equivalent to the German Einfiihlung and
modelled on 'sympathy.'
The use of empathy is an important part of the counselling technique developed by the
American psychologist Carl Rogers.
Often confused with sympathy
Sympathy and empathy are both acts of feeling, but with sympathy you feel for the person;
you are sorry for them or pity them, but you don't specifically understand what they are
feeling.
Empathy can best be described as feeling with the person. To an extent you are placing
yourself in that person's place, have a good sense of what he feels and understand his
feelings to a degree.
A manager, filled with sympathy for an underperforming employee, may be inclined to cut
corners or make excuses to try and assist - when what’s really needed is something different.
Because acting out of sympathy isn’t the whole picture. Empathy means seeing and
understanding the feelings of another; emotional intelligence helps you to manage your
moods in the midst of that recognition.
Daniel Goleman describes three kinds of empathy, each associated with different circuits of
the brain. He calls them the “Empathy Triad”.

Empathy Triad

Cognitive Emotional Compassionate

Empathy Empathy Empathy

Cognitive Empathy

Emotional Empathy

Compassionate
Empathy

1. Cognitive empathy: It is a top-down orientation to what other people are experiencing. It

allows you to understand their thoughts, feelings, and state of mind but not to personally
feel what they’re going through.
Cognitive empathy allows individuals to understand and anticipate how others might feel in
different situations.
“I understand how you see things and your mental process”.
2. Emotional empathy: It refers to when you personally feel the emotions another person or
group of people are feeling. Bottom-up processing helps with this, allowing you to pay
attention to subtle information, like nonverbal cues and tone of voice, that clue us into their
emotions. It refers to resonating with others.
Emotional empathy allows individuals to connect with others on a deeper level and respond
appropriately to their emotions.
“I understand how you feel”, “I feel your pain”.
3. Empathic Concern or Compassionate Empathy: It refers to the kind of empathy where we
not only understand a person’s predicament and feel with them, but are spontaneously
moved to help, if needed. In exercising compassionate empathy, we can find the right
balance between logic and emotion.
Compassionate empathy allows individuals to demonstrate kindness, generosity, and
compassion towards others.
“I want what is good for you”, “I have your back”, “I’m here for you”
Importance of Empathy
Empathy is widely recognized as a universal virtue, closely related to many other virtues, such as
love, compassion, kindness, tolerance, respect, and acceptance. Educators promote empathy as:

• the cornerstone for moral and character development

• an antidote to bullying and violence in school.

It is also essential for working towards inclusiveness in education. As a value to be inculcated

empathy is very essential for working towards inclusiveness.

As an individual, we need empathy to survive and succeed in this complex and world.

Empathy is an essential element of both social awareness and relationship management, which are
necessary for successful communication, collaboration, and teamwork.

Therapeutically, it can be a very healing experience for someone to empathize with you. When
someone effectively says, 'I care for you', it also says 'I can do that, I can care for myself.'

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Empathy is an important part of emotional intelligence. The term emotional intelligence was
popularized in 1995 by psychologist and behavioural science journalist Dr. Daniel Goleman
in his book Emotional Intelligence.
Goleman described emotional intelligence as a person's ability to manage their feelings so
that those feelings are expressed appropriately and effectively. According to Goleman,
emotional intelligence is the largest single predictor of success in the workplace.
Emotional Intelligence is a critical skill in today's complex and dynamic world, where social
and emotional skills are highly valued. Empathy is one of the key components of EI, along
with self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, and social skills.
Emotional intelligence is learned. Unlike Intelligence Quotient, which is essentially fixed
within narrow parameters at birth, Emotional Quotient can be developed and enhanced. In
other words, temperament is not destiny. Empathy and the capacity to understand the
emotions of others can be nurtured.
For example, one may have adequate baseline emotional intelligence but will still need to
learn the specific competency of empathy to influence relationships with peers or superiors
for success.
Ways in which empathy can enhance our Emotional Intelligence:
Understand Emotions of Others:
Empathy can enhance our emotional intelligence by allowing us to better understand the
emotions of others. When we are able to empathize with someone, we can put ourselves in
their shoes and see things from their perspective. This can help us to better understand their
needs, wants, and desires, and allow us to respond more effectively to their emotional state.
For example, if a classmate is feeling stressed, we can use our empathy skills to understand
why they are feeling this way and provide support or offer solutions to alleviate their stress.
Improved Communication:
When individuals are empathetic, they listen attentively to others, paying attention to both
verbal and non-verbal cues. They are able to pick up on subtle changes in tone of voice,
body language, and facial expressions, and they respond in a way that acknowledges the
other person's emotions.
Empathetic individuals ask questions to clarify their understanding, summarize what they
have heard, and express their own thoughts and feelings in a way that demonstrates
understanding and validation.
This can lead to better outcomes in both personal and professional relationships.
Stronger relationships:
Empathy can help us to build stronger relationships with others. When we are able to
empathize with someone, we are showing them that we care about their feelings and are
willing to listen and understand their perspective. This can help to build trust and respect
between individuals, which can be critical in both personal and professional settings.
For example, a coach who demonstrates empathy towards their trainees is more likely to
have a strong, loyal team who are willing to go the extra mile to help achieve team goals.
Increased self-awareness:
Empathy can also improve self-awareness, which is the ability to recognize and understand
one's own emotions. When individuals are able to understand and empathize with the
emotions of others, they may become more aware of their own emotional responses. This
can lead to better self-regulation, increased emotional intelligence, and improved overall
well-being.
Regulate our own emotions:
Empathy can enhance our emotional intelligence is by helping us to regulate our own
emotions. When we are able to empathize with someone, we are more likely to be able to
control our own emotional response. This can help us to avoid overreacting or becoming
defensive in response to someone else's emotions.
For example, if a friend is upset with us, we can use our empathy skills to understand why
they are upset and respond in a calm, thoughtful manner rather than becoming defensive or
angry.
Improved decision-making:
Empathy can help us to make better decisions by allowing us to consider the perspectives
and needs of others. This can lead to more informed and thoughtful decisions, especially in
complex situations.
Mental Health:
Empathy can also have positive effects on mental health. By connecting with others on a
deeper level, individuals can experience a sense of social connectedness and belonging,
which can promote mental health and well-being.
Empathy can also reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are risk factors for
depression and anxiety.
Reduced stress:
Empathy can also help us to manage stress more effectively. By empathizing with others, we
can better understand their needs and concerns, which can reduce our own stress levels.
Additionally, when we feel understood and supported by others, we are more likely to
experience positive emotions and feel less stressed.
Positive Impact on our Well-being:
Developing empathy skills can also have a positive impact on our personal well-being. When
we are able to empathize with others, we are better able to form meaningful connections
and build a sense of community. This can help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation,
which can have a negative impact on our mental health.
Additionally, practicing empathy can help to increase our own self-awareness and emotional
intelligence, which can lead to greater self-esteem and confidence.
Enhanced Leadership Skills:
Empathy is a critical skill for effective leadership. When leaders are empathetic, they are
better able to understand the needs and motivations of their team members. This can lead
to more effective communication, increased morale, and higher levels of engagement.
Empathetic leaders are also more likely to create a positive work culture, which can lead to
increased productivity and better outcomes.
Conflict Resolution:
Empathy plays a crucial role in conflict resolution. When individuals are able to understand
the emotions and perspectives of others, they are better equipped to find solutions that
work for everyone involved. Empathy can help de-escalate tense situations, foster
understanding, and prevent conflicts from escalating.
Conclusion
Empathy is a critical component of emotional intelligence and can have a significant impact
on how we interact with others. By enhancing our empathy skills, we can better understand
the emotions of others, build stronger relationships, regulate our own emotions, and
improve our personal well-being. Developing empathy skills requires practice and effort, but
the benefits can be profound both personally and professionally.