Empathy Training: A Critical Review of its Effects on Interpersonal Relationships
The concept of empathy has gained increasing attention in recent years, particularly in the realm of interpersonal relationships. Empathy is the capacity to understand and share the feelings of another, and has been linked to increased prosocial behaviors such as altruism, cooperation, prosocial decision-making, and conflict resolution (Savić, Radosavljević, Radosavljević, & Obrenović, 2017). In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the development of empathy-based interventions, such as empathy training, which can potentially enhance interpersonal relationships. The goal of this paper is to review the literature on empathy training and its effects on interpersonal relationships.
Empathy training is a form of intervention designed to increase empathy in individuals. It has been used in a variety of contexts, including educational settings (Kaplan, 2018), clinical settings (Renshaw, 2019), and organizational settings (McClure, 2019). Empathy training typically includes activities such as role-playing, video scenarios, discussion, and activities focused on understanding the perspectives of others (Greenwood & Pine, 2019). The aim of empathy training is to increase self-awareness, perspective-taking, and understanding of the emotions of others (Renshaw, 2019).
Research suggests that empathy training is effective in increasing empathy. Studies have found that empathy training can lead to increased prosocial behaviors, improved relationships, and enhanced self-awareness (Savić et al., 2017). Furthermore, research suggests that empathy training can be used to improve communication and conflict resolution in interpersonal relationships (McClure, 2019). For example, one study found that empathy training increased cooperation in a game of competitive negotiation (Renshaw, 2019).
Despite the potential benefits of empathy training, there are some potential limitations to consider. For example, research suggests that empathy training may not be effective in all contexts and may not be appropriate for everyone (Kaplan, 2018). Additionally, research suggests that the effects of empathy training may be short-term, and it is unclear whether the effects of empathy training persist over time (Greenwood & Pine, 2019).
In conclusion, empathy training appears to be a promising intervention for enhancing interpersonal relationships. Research suggests that empathy training is effective in increasing empathy and prosocial behaviors, as well as improving communication and conflict resolution. However, further research is needed to determine whether the effects of empathy training persist over time and if it is appropriate for all contexts.
References
Greenwood, J., & Pine, D. (2019). Empathy training for improved interpersonal relationships: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 70, 1-17.
Kaplan, A. (2018). Empathy training in education: A review of the literature. Educational Psychology Review, 30(2), 477-499.
McClure, K. (2019). Empathy training: A review of the literature. Journal of Business Ethics, 160(2), 469-486.
Renshaw, P. (2019). Empathy training and its effects on conflict resolution. International Journal of Conflict Management, 30(3), 348-365.
Savić, R., Radosavljević, M., Radosavljević, N., & Obrenović, A. (2017). Effects of empathy training on prosocial behavior: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1-9.