Social Empathy : The Art of Understanding Others

Elizabeth A. Segal explains how we can develop our ability to understand one another and have compassion toward different social groups. A useful explanation of an often misunderstood concept, __Social Empathy__ brings together sociology, psychology, social work, and cognitive neuroscience to illustrate how to become better advocates for justice. Our ability to understand others and help others understand us is essential to our individual and collective well-being. Yet there are many barriers that keep us from walking in the shoes of others: fear, skepticism, and power structures that separate us from those outside our narrow groups. To progress in a multicultural world and ensure our common good, we need to overcome these obstacles. Our best hope can be found in the skill of empathy. In Social Empathy , Elizabeth A. Segal explains how we can develop our ability to understand one another and have compassion toward different social groups. When we are socially empathic, we not only imagine what it is like to be another person, but we consider their social, economic, and political circumstances and what shaped them. Segal explains the evolutionary and learned components of interpersonal and social empathy, including neurobiological factors and the role of social structures. Ultimately, empathy is not only a part of interpersonal relations: it is fundamental to interactions between different social groups and can be a way to bridge diverse people and communities. A clear and useful explanation of an often misunderstood concept, Social Empathy brings together sociology, psychology, social work, and cognitive neuroscience to illustrate how to become better advocates for justice. Contents Preface Chapter One. What Is Empathy? Chapter Two. Why Do We Need Empathy? Chapter Three. If It’s So Important, Why Is Empathy So Hard? Chapter Four. Are Power and Politics Barriers to Empathy? Chapter Five. What If Stress, Depression, and Other Health Factors Block Empathy? Chapter Six. Where Is Religion in Empathy? Chapter Seven. Can We Have Empathy with Technology? Chapter Eight. Social Empathy—Making the World a Better Place Epilogue: Teaching Social Empathy Notes Index What is empathy? -- Why do we need empathy? -- If it's so important, why is empathy so hard? -- Are power and politics barriers to empathy? -- What if stress, depression, and other physical factors block empathy? -- Where is religion in empathy? -- Can we have empathy with technology? -- Social empathy-making the world a better place