Empathy Movement Magazine

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into mental health care is a promising frontier, offering scalable and innovative solutions to address the growing demand for psychological support.

The study "The Emotional Spectrum of LLMs: Leveraging Empathy and Emotion-Based Markers for Mental Health Support" by Alessandro De Grandi, Federico Ravenda, Andrea Raballo, and Fabio Crestani, available on arXiv, delves into this potential.

It introduces a groundbreaking conversational AI system designed to enhance mental health support by combining empathetic responses with emotion-based diagnostic tools.

In such a context, empathy is treated as an expendable commodity. The fate of the battery-run rickshaw pullers exemplifies this. These workers, often rural migrants, already navigate precarious economic realities. The ban on their vehicles, justified under the banner of urban orderliness and energy efficiency, ignores their lived realities. There is no robust plan to compensate for their losses or integrate them into alternative forms of employment. It is a classic example of neoliberal governance: tidy the streets, appease the urban middle class, and leave the marginalised to fend for themselves.

Cultivate empathy. One way authoritarians defeat democracy is by trying to destroy empathy. Their strategies depend on dehumanization, demonization, and division. One of the best ways to resist is to actively cultivate empathy. Do your best to understand other people’s feelings and perspectives. Empathy is a powerful antidote to fascism and hatred. Democracy depends on empathy – you can't have democracy without it.

As 2024 comes to an end, I’ve been thinking about the year , the challenges, the growth, and the habits that have changed my life. This year has been about being more empathetic, balancing work and personal life, and helping others grow. I’ve learned how to juggle a full-time job, volunteer work, mentoring people around the world, and still make time for my health and family. It hasn’t always been easy, but with good planning and focusing on what matters most, I’ve found a way to do it all.

"By Maria Ross

As someone who has dedicated my career to helping leaders infuse empathy into their work, I’m always fascinated by the practical tools that bring this concept to life. 

One such tool I’ve known about for quite some time is Empathy Circles—a structured approach to fostering understanding and connection. I first heard about Empathy Circles from Edwin Rutsch and his team at the Center for Building a Culture of Empathy. Edwin and I met when he attended The Empathy Edge book launch party in Berkeley in 2019. He shared how his team has used Empathy Circles at the most divisive political rallies the U.S. has seen in recent years. They set up Empathy Tents at these rallies to get a person from each side of the political spectrum into a tent and facilitate listening to each other. Not to convert, but to LISTEN."

by Rodger Dean Duncan

In a previous column we explored empathy as a behavior that’s important in all relationships and is particularly useful as a leadership skill. We gained insights from Maria Ross, an empathy researcher who’s written widely on the subject. Her most recent book is The Empathy Dilemma: How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries.

We asked about “empathy myths.” What are they, and how do they get in the way of effective relationships?

“Empathy is not just about being nice,” Ross says. “Being nice is often something we do from our own lens that may or may not be what that person needs.” She says you can be a very nice office mate and bake really delicious cookies for your work colleagues, but that doesn’t mean you see their perspectives.

It’s about empathy.

Maria Ross certainly understands that’s invaluable human behavior. She’s the author of The Empathy Dilemma: How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries.

Some people mistakenly view sympathy and empathy as synonymous, but they’re not. Ross explains the difference.

by Amy J. Wilson, FRSA
Empathy: A Leadership Superpower

Empathy isn’t just about being kind—it’s a powerful tool for success. Research from the Businessolver State of Workplace Empathy Report, shows that companies with empathetic cultures are more innovative, profitable, and resilient. The report notes that “72% of employees would leave their job for a more empathetic employer,” highlighting how essential empathy is for retaining top talent.

Rae Shanahan, Chief Strategy Officer at Businessolver, shared that “empathy doesn’t thrive in fear-based workplaces. Leaders need to create an environment where people feel safe to be themselves.” Maria Ross, author of The Empathy Dilemma and Minette Norman, an award-winning author, speaker, and leadership consultant and author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader and the co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook, shared surprising examples, like military leadership guides that stress empathy as a key skill.

Radical Empathy in Leadership

Radical empathy is the willingness to show love and understanding to people whose actions toward you—and others who share your identity or belief—are the opposite of love. It requires us to offer empathy to those who may choose hatred or indifference. While this may seem like an arduous challenge, it is also the pathway to true transformation.

As leaders, it is our responsibility to cultivate an environment where empathy is not just a value, but a practice. We must recognize that everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs, has the potential for growth and change. By showing empathy to those who need it most, we create the conditions for deeper, more authentic connections that can lead to lasting change.

David Burns M.D
Empathy is considered by many to be a cornerstone of effective mental health treatment. American psychologist Carl Rogers achieved fame with his claim that empathy was the “necessary and sufficient condition” for change in therapy, and many experts agree that empathy creates feelings of trust, reduces negative feelings, and boosts self-esteem.

Can digital devices do the same thing?

Digital mental health apps are enjoying a true breakthrough moment, and AI shows great promise in mimicking human conversation. But can digital empathy compete with human empathy in terms of healing?

By Joseph Njau Kinyanjui

Empathy, often seen as a soft skill in personal development, is now being recognized as an essential driver of success in the corporate, branding, and strategic communication sectors. As we move deeper into an age dominated by digital interactions and data-driven decisions, the question of how to engage with customers, employees, and other stakeholders on a human level becomes increasingly important. This article explores the intersection between empathy and communication across various sectors, shedding light on how empathy can reshape corporate strategies, enhance branding efforts, and improve personal communication.

Empathy is the ability to notice and understand other people’s emotions. Not only does it allow you to take other people’s perspectives, but it can help you build relationships and resolve conflict, said Ann-Louise Lockhart, pediatric psychologist, parent coach and owner of A New Day Pediatric Psychology.

“Kids who practice empathy are more likely to show kindness, adapt to diverse environments and develop resilience,” she said. “These skills are crucial for their emotional well-being and contribute to their success in personal and professional settings later in life.”

Because we are in a digital-driven world and there’s less face-to-face connection, it’s especially important that we’re intentional about our kids cultivating empathy, added Michele Borba, educational psychologist and author of UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World.

EQ isn’t just contagious within families. Another recent study in PNAS scanned people’s brains and observed that when people observed empathy, they were more empathic themselves. 

Scientific American summed up this line of research like this: “Empathy is a socially motivated process… meaning that people won’t necessarily empathize just because they know how. Instead—much as kids with athletic peers often want to excel at sports—people want to understand others when they enter into communities where empathy is the established norm.”

The business takeaway is clear. If you want to raise your emotional intelligence, surround yourself with high EQ people. And if you want to raise the emotional intelligence of your team, model high EQ yourself.

In an era marked by division and misunderstanding, how can museums become spaces for fostering empathy and driving social transformation? The Empathy Museum stands as a beacon, demonstrating how cultural spaces can cultivate understanding, challenge biases, and inspire meaningful change.

Founded in 2015 by philosopher Roman Krznaric and directed by artist Clare Patey, the Empathy Museum is a series of participatory art projects dedicated to helping us look at the world through other people’s eyes. Through immersive experiences and storytelling, the museum has redefined how cultural spaces can contribute to building a more compassionate society.

You might think you’re a good listener, but common behaviors like nodding and saying “mm-hmm” can actually leave the speaker feeling unheard or dismissed. The truth is that mastering the art of listening involves a whole host of other skills as well. You need to do more.

00:00 You might think you’re a good listener, but …
00:52 … here’s how to be a “trampoline” listener.
01:25 Question 1: How do I usually listen?
01:50 Question 2: Why do I need to listen right now?
02:35 Question 3: Who is the focus of attention in the conversation?
02:54 Question 4: What am I missing?
04:30 Question 5: Am I getting in my own way?
05:08 Question 6: Am I in an information bubble?
06:04 OK, let’s review.
 

This article explores four interrelated themes — Empathy, Inclusive Architecture, and Spatial Equity and Accessibility— through selected articles published in 2024. Together, these themes reveal how architecture can respond to societal challenges and aspirations, illustrating its potential as a catalyst for social change. From designing for emotional connection to addressing spatial inequalities, the lessons of 2024 emphasize the responsibility of architects to create spaces that transcend functionality, champion inclusivity at every scale, and foster environments where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered.