1. Chapter 2 Empathy Amber Gilewski Tompkins Cortland Community College

2. What is Empathy? • Imagining yourself in someone else’s shoes • Sharing another being’s feelings and emotions • Difference between sympathy vs. empathy?

3. Empathy & Social Action • Empathy is related to compassion • Compassion gives rise to altruism & social action • We respond to suffering in many ways • Some of the distress we feel can cause us to act

4. Snap Judgments • Rushing to judgment or ideas about someone else • Snap judgments prevent us from being empathic • Belief in a “just world” can create snap judgments • How can we avoid making snap judgments?

5. Forgiveness • Ending resentment or anger towards someonewe believe offended us • Possibly stopping to demand punishment, apology, or payback • Forgiveness appears helpful to our well-being • It is linked with less depression, anger, and hostility • Can improve our self-esteem, increase empathy, and generates a greater sense of controlAMISH SCHOOL SHOOTING & FORGIVENESS

6. Fostering Empathy • Take the other’s perspective • Listen actively to those in distress (even strangers) • Learn from stories and films • Volunteer to help others • Role play • Extend compassion to those outside of your circle • Do random acts of kindness • Raise helpful children