Falling back in love with your partner requires a combination of emotional openness, vulnerability, and active effort to reconnect.
Empathy builds emotional connection, communication, trust, and support, all essential elements of a healthy partnership.
The more empathy you give, the more you will likely receive. I have never had someone come into my office and say, "My problem is that my partner understands me too much." Developing empathy for your partner means really
understanding what life has been and is like for them.
Empathy is not some mystical power. It is not magic, intuition, or just the "warm fuzzies." And make no mistake, empathy is not mind-reading. But it may just be the next best thing to it in relationships.
Jeffrey Bernstein, Ph.D.,is a psychologist and the author of seven book
Bio: Edwin Rutsch is the Founding Director of The Empathy Center, developer and long term "evangelist" of the Empathy Movement Circle practice. (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Website)
Topic: Why is it Beneficial to Think in Terms of Building an Empathy Movement?
Abstract: This talk makes the case for seeing our work not as isolated projects, but as part of a larger Empathy Movement. A movement lens gives us energy, unity, and vision—it reminds us that we are not alone but building something bigger together. By naming it a movement, we create a call to action: to connect, to collaborate, and to stand for empathy as a constructive growth promoting cultural force. I will share why this framing is so powerful and how it can help us grow a movement that heals and transforms relationships, communities, and society.
Bio: Johanna (Jodie) Jensen is an empathy researcher at Brigham Young University. She is pursuing a doctorate degree in social psychology and studies empathy in the broader context of positive psychology and character development. (LinkedIn) (Facebook)
Topic: A Clearer Empathy Definition for a Stronger Empathy Movement
Abstract: Empathy is a widely held cultural value. However, due to divergent definitions of empathy, recent critics have called empathy dangerous and toxic. Empathy advocates are left baffled by this outcry, wondering how anyone could criticize a practice that has such obvious relational benefits. As we work together to build an empathy movement, we must first seek to understand the perspective of those who oppose the movement.
In this talk, we will dig into the various definitions of empathy to discover why this disconnect exists. We will then discuss how we can use this understanding to invite the critics to see the value of the holistic empathy model we promote. Finally, we will discuss the need for a clear, simple definition of the holistic empathy model that can be broadly accepted and operationalized.
Bio: Dr. Felicia Darling is a Math/Ed Professor at UC Berkeley and SRJC and author of Empathy Unchained: Heal Your Trauma. Uplift the World. (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Website)
Topic: From Math Circles to Empathy Circles: Building a Bottom-Up Movement
Abstract: A true global Empathy Movement must grow both top-down and bottom-up. In my course Playing with Mindfulness and Math, we use Empathy Circles to foster collaborative problem-solving, deeper connection, and compassionate engagement—even in math. When empathy is integrated into daily life and learning, we begin to build lasting change from the ground up.
The Empathy Circle meeting focused on strategies for building the empathy movement. Ingrid Hirtz facilitated the discussion, emphasizing the importance of gradual empathy building and the need for trust within the movement. Participants shared their experiences, highlighting the effectiveness of structured empathy circles and the challenges of integrating empathy practices outside these environments.
The conversation also touched on the importance of financing the movement, the role of impact investors, and the need for educational outreach to both participants and potential investors. The session concluded with reflections on the personal and collective impact of empathy work.
The Method of Empathy: Compassion and Scientific Rigour
To understand Dr Jane Goodall’s impact requires understanding her methods. Her contribution to science and environment through primatology was distinguished by its objective observations and revolutionary use of empathy in scientific study.
Instead of the then-traditional methods of using research numbers, she gave her chimpanzee subject names such as David Greybeard, Flo, and Flint.
This empathy stretched to her documentation of not just their use of simple tools, but their personalities, family bonds, emotions of joy and grief, and their lives and stories. This approach challenged the detached, quantitative science of her era, and its gradual acceptance worldwide as a scientific method was a testament to and foundation for her scientific and charismatic authority.
The Ignorance of Rejecting Empathy Charlie Kirk didn’t need or want that kind of educational journey. His advocacy with students was exemplified by a taunt: “Prove me wrong.”
His confidence made him bold. His ignorance made him dangerous.
Kirk seemed uninformed about human emotions and the complexities of living in a community. Empathy is not a new-age, made-up term.
Researcher Brené Brown, in Atlas of the Heart, a leading resource for understanding 87 human emotions, wrote, “Empathy is a tool of compassion. It is about being present to someone’s pain.”
In this episode of the Magical Learning Podcast, Daniel Murray discusses the importance of empathy in leadership and the challenges of understanding others. He shares his personal journey from mathematics to consulting, emphasising the need for leaders to connect with their teams on a deeper level.
The conversation explores the concept of the empathy gap, practical strategies for reducing it, and the significance of effective communication in building trust. Daniel also reflects on his writing process for his book, 'The Empathy Gap', and encourages leaders to embrace vulnerability and curiosity in their interactions.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Journey 03:46 Understanding Empathy and Its Importance 07:36 The Empathy Gap Explained 11:32 Practical Questions for Building Trust 15:08 Strategies for Leaders to Reduce the Empathy Gap 19:12 The Writing Process and Final Thoughts
De l'empathie... a-t-elle déjà sa place dans la communication que nous avons tous les jours, au quotidien ? Cet article vous informe sur son rôle et qu'a t'elle comme objecitf.
Emily Kasriel shows us how to use curiosity, empathy and respect in recognising people’s right to be truly heard.
In a society facing polarisation and fractures, where social media platforms stoke divisions and algorithms bolster echo chambers, how can we engage more meaningfully with people whose opinions differ from our own? Emily Kasriel wants us to try Deep Listening.
An experienced media executive and journalist, Kasriel has evolved her Deep Listening approach through her work as Visiting Research Fellow at King's College Policy Institute and as a Practitioner in Residence at the London School of Economics. She has also drawn on her decade long experience as an Executive Coach and workplace mediator.
Deep Listening establishes stronger connections where people feel safe to express themselves and genuinely understood, even if they profoundly disagree. In conversation with Kitty Drake, Emily Kasriel will talk us through her development of the practice, her experience of implementing it amongst the communities who need it most, and the ways we can all incorporate it into our own lives.
The term empathy has become a buzzword in recent decades, and the concept has received both scholarly attention and has also been the focus of public interest, professional trainings, and policy initiatives. However, misconceptions about its nature persist. Our aim is to rectify these misunderstandings by highlighting claims about empathy that have been empirically refuted. We address seven myths about empathy:
#1 People mean the same thing when they say “empathy,”
Anti-racist movements have continued to grow worldwide after the death of George Floyd in 2020. Following the BLM protests, many promises were made to deal with the impact of structural discrimination. While this led to more talk than action, there has also been meaningful change, some of which has gone under the radar. The US media focused primarily on the backlash that resulted in book bans and laws against having DEI offices in universities.
In contrast, this book, a follow-up to Terri Givens’ best-selling book Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides, highlights the promises which were delivered. It focuses on hope and taking action and creating a positive environment including the use of the radical empathy approach to empower ongoing change.
In a world chasing speed, Pusjkar argued that our advantage lies not in acceleration but in awareness not in efficiency, but in empathy. The Human Edge: From Soft Skill to Strategic Power
For too long, leadership conversations have treated empathy and culture as the ‘soft’ side of business. But the most transformative organisations of our time, from Microsoft to Haier, have shown that these so-called soft skills are, in fact, the hardest to replicate and the most powerful to scale. When Satya Nadella took over a fragmented Microsoft in 2014, he didn’t begin with code or cost-cutting. He began with listening. “He did not start with boardrooms or town halls,” Pushkar recalled. “He took his leadership team into the redwoods, where there was empathy, listening, and collaboration.”
And yet, empathy is most fragile when we need it most. Our empathy narrows under conditions of threat, difference or moralized conflict. We draw boundaries between “us” and “them,” and once we do, compassion for the “other” becomes harder to access. In polarized contexts, this narrowing is amplified: the suffering of someone on the “other side” can feel less urgent, less real or even, perversely, like a form of justice. When we allow these boundaries to harden, we chip away at the very foundations of human connection.
Article content This is the moment where empathy is most radical, and most necessary. Choosing empathy here does not mean endorsing Kirk’s political views, nor erasing the harm that his rhetoric may have caused to others. It is not about a single individual — it is about us, about the state of our societies and where we are heading. It means recognizing that violence against one person pulls us all deeper into a cycle where fear and retaliation replace dialogue and repair. If we continue down this path, each act of violence or outrage becomes another layer in a wall that separates us.
Bio: Masha is a psychologist, independent researcher, and founder of the Empathy-Based Society Institute, an initiative dedicated to promoting the purposeful development of empathy at both individual and systemic levels for people, animals, and the planet. (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Website)
Topic: Empathy Movement: Cultivating an Empathy-Based Society for Personal and Systemic Change
Abstract: Neuroscience shows empathy and violence are neurologically linked and suppress one another. We have normalized violence towards people, animals, nature, and the planet, and built an economic system on this foundation. Saving the planet and creating a better future for all beings requires more than innovation and investment in sustainable solutions; it demands a fundamental shift in how we relate to all living beings and the planet. This is where the Empathy Movement steps in: by teaching empathic connection to people, animals, and nature, we directly address the problem of normalized violence at individual, community, and systemic levels. The movement also provides a unifying framework for sectors that often operate in parallel but disconnected efforts, such as social justice, animal advocacy, and environmental action. By reconnecting these sectors through a shared foundation of empathy, the Empathy Movement amplifies their collective impact and builds the foundation for lasting societal transformation.
Bio: Catherine Cooley is an organizational communication and conflict coach and trainer, certified in NVC (Nonviolent & Compassionate Communication). (LinkedIn) (Website)
Topic: Can the Empathy Movement Humanize Corporations?
Abstract: Wouldn’t we all want to live and work in a world of genuinely empathic companies? To grow the empathy movement in the business community, we need to provide empathy and other Emotional Intelligence training that is genuine, precise, and experiential. Otherwise people end up with a conceptual understanding that is not embodied nor integrated into their actions and interactions. Or, worse, empathy becomes a tool of manipulation. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) based training provides a solid foundation for empathy to shine as the powerful company culture builder that it really is.
Bio: Cait Kamins is the founder of The CoMethod, co-creator of Full Circle, and a national leader in independent school communities--she brings sixteen years of experience in social-emotional learning, school culture, and educator development. (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Website)
Topic: Building the Empathy Movement in Schools: Reclaiming Human Connection in Educational Spaces
Abstract: What would it take for empathy to become a true cornerstone of global education, not just a classroom practice or buzzword? This session considers how schools can move beyond isolated programs to create environments where empathy is woven into the fabric of teaching and leadership. By focusing on the needs and strengths of educators, the empathy movement becomes both scalable and sustaining.
Thursday, November 6 | Free Admission & Parking 5-6 P.M. Community Resource Center 6-7:30 P.M. Panel Discussion Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg's Center for Health Equality
In an era when many feel isolated, misunderstood or emotionally overwhelmed, how can we listen and connect?
Join Tampa Bay Times Columnist Stephanie Hayes and a panel of experts on empathy, ethics, civil discourse and media literacy to explore:
What does it take to hold space for different perspectives?
How can we be truly open to seeing another point of view?
What practical tools can help us engage in hard conversations and build bridges?
How do we move from empathy to meaningful action?
The experts will share practical tools for navigating tough conversations, building trust and turning empathy into action. You’ll leave with strategies for meaningful dialogue and tips for digging out instead of digging in.
Arrive at 5 p.m. to explore resources from community partners, including: Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg Tampa Bay Times
A lack of empathy in the customer journey The study of more than 11,000 consumers worldwide found that 72 percent believe a company’s empathy disappears the moment a contract is signed, and 43 percent have left a brand entirely because of it. This widespread perception presents a significant barrier to building authentic customer relationships and has consequences for trust, loyalty and growth.
This issue is particularly acute in the financial services sector. Our survey found that 88 percent of consumers surveyed believe it is important for financial services companies, including insurers, to show empathy, a figure second only to healthcare (94 percent).
Why you should use empathy in business: Is there a place for empathy in the workplace? Google recently identified empathy as THE difference maker. Why is empathy important in business and what does these new statement from Google and Adobe mean for business?
In this video Joshua Freedman, Six Seconds' CEO, talks about why you should use empathy in business, and explores 3 obstacles leader face that will help you understand how you can use empathy to get better results for yourself for your team and for your organization.
Want to see how companies around the world are working on empathy and emotional intelligence? 6seconds.org/cases
The Empathy Gap: The Bridge to Real Connection and Lasting Influence
Want to form stronger connections with the people they lead....
In The Empathy Gap, corporate strategy and management consultant Daniel Murray delivers a unique and unconventional approach to contemporary leadership, emphasising the power of empathy. Empathy is not just a secondary soft skill, but rather a powerful tool for driving performance, fostering innovation and leading in today’s complex, diverse and fast-paced world. Exhibiting empathy is not a magical skill that some people have and others don’t. It is a capability that we can all build and nurture.
Drawing on the latest research, personal anecdotes and real-world case studies, Murray lays out a detailed and practical guide for leaders to harness the transformative power of empathy and achieve outstanding results in their organisations.
An invaluable resource for corporate leaders, business managers, human resources professionals and board members, The Empathy Gap helps leaders develop their empathetic capabilities, leading to long-term, sustainable business success ― without sacrificing culture.
A new study from Yale casts doubt on a popular idea: that good listening helps change people’s minds. While nonjudgmental listening can make conversations feel better—by reducing defensiveness and improving impressions of the speaker—it doesn’t seem to make persuasive arguments more effective.
The researchers ran a large field experiment on a polarizing topic: in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. Nearly 1,500 Americans took part. Each had a ten-minute video conversation with a trained speaker. Some speakers shared a personal story about an undocumented immigrant; others didn’t. Separately, some speakers used high-quality listening techniques, while others didn’t.
Dr. Daryl Cameron is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Penn State. He explains empathy as sharing feelings, perspective-taking, and compassion. It’s flexible, can be learned, and sometimes causes challenges like burnout. His research shows empathy isn’t limited; people can grow empathy for both humans and animals, emphasizing strategic emotional management rather than competition.
Empathy, the ability to feel and see another’s suffering, not just through understanding what they are going through but by being able to put themselves in another’s shoes, is on the decline.
Elon Musk said that “the fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy.” The late Charlie Kirk stated that, “I can’t stand empathy, it is a made-up new age term that does a lot of damage.”
Traditionally the perception has been that empathy lends itself to strategic thinking, bringing people together and creating strong connections. Not so for Kirk and Musk. They prefer the term compassion. Compassion is supposed to be a natural next step beyond empathy, recognizing a person’s pain and involving the desire to alleviate suffering and to provide helpful action.
Brené and Adam Grant explore the attack on empathy, the difference between cognitive empathy and affective empathy, and what separates empathy from enmeshment.
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