What Is Empathy?

Empathy, is the effort of one person to understand the feelings, thoughts, and circumstances of another person. A person who establishes empathy seeks to recognize what the other person is feeling and to approach events from their perspective. The goal of this process is to understand how the other person’s situation influences their emotions and thoughts.

Why Is Empathy Necessary?

Empathy helps people understand each other more accurately. Since feelings and thoughts are not always expressed explicitly, empathy enables individuals to perceive what the other person might be feeling. This reduces misunderstandings in communication.

People have different life experiences and may perceive the same situations in different ways. Empathy facilitates the understanding of these differences and helps individuals adjust their behavior with consideration for the other person. As a result, the language used in communication becomes more balanced and thoughtful.

How Is Empathy Established?

The process of establishing empathy begins when an individual directs their attention toward the other person. At this stage, the person carefully observes what the other person says, their behavior, and their reactions. To establish empathy, the individual must temporarily set aside their own feelings and thoughts and focus entirely on the other person.

First, the situation experienced by the other person is recognized. The individual then tries to understand what that situation means to the other person. Next, events are viewed from their perspective, and how they might be perceived is considered. In the final stage, the individual expresses their understanding to the other person in an appropriate and clear manner.

How Does Empathy Develop Over Time?

Empathy is a skill that develops over time. Through personal experiences and relationships with their environment, individuals learn to recognize the emotions and thoughts of others. This process gradually enhances their ability to establish empathy.

Empathy is not considered an innate trait but rather a learnable and developable skill. Therefore, an individual’s level of empathy can change throughout their life.

Empathy in Daily and Social Life

Empathy enables individuals to act in daily life and within society with consideration for the feelings and thoughts of others. A person who practices empathy does not focus solely on their own perspective during communication; they also take into account the situation of the other person. This contributes to more attentive and balanced interpersonal communication.

In society, individuals with different thoughts, emotions, and living conditions coexist. Empathy makes it easier to recognize these differences and helps people understand each other more accurately. As a result, individuals adjust their behavior with regard to those around them. Thanks to empathy, communication in social life proceeds in a more orderly manner and mutual understanding is supported.