Empathy: From 3 Different Sources
The ability to understand and share the thoughts and feelings of another person.
In psychoanalysis, the therapist partly relies on empathy to establish a relationship with a patient.
The facility to understand and be sympathetic to the feelings and thoughts of another individual. Empathy in the therapist is an essential component of successful psychotherapy and is a valuable characteristic in anyone who is a member of a caring profession.
n. the ability to imagine and understand the thoughts, perspective, and emotions of another person. In counselling and psychotherapy empathy is often considered to be one of the necessary qualities enabling a successful therapeutic relationship.
n. an inability to express one’s emotions or describe them in words, commonly accompanied by a lack of empathy for the feelings of others. Most often seen in males, it is associated with autistic spectrum disorders (see autism) and also with certain eating disorders.... alexithymia
n. 1. (in physiology) the property of certain kinds of tissue that enables them to respond in a specific way to outside stimuli. Irritability is shown by nerve cells, which can generate and transmit electrical impulses when stimulated appropriately, and by muscle cells, which contract when stimulated by nerve impulses. 2. impatience and lack of *empathy. This has been found to be a major factor in patients’ dissatisfaction with their medical advisors.... irritability
n. no longer having some valued aspect of one’s life, such as a relationship, a job, or a home, that one has previously enjoyed. This may have health consequences: shock, disbelief, and emotional numbness may be followed by anger, guilt, anxiety, or profound sadness. Such emotions may lead to behavioural changes or symptoms that bring people to health care. Encouraging the patient to talk about the loss will require *empathy, sensitivity, and *judgment from the professional, both to obtain the history of the events and to provide helpful advice and direction to assist in adjustment. See also bereavement.... loss
n. possession of a high level of intellectual and technical expertise with a commitment to public service and the ability to practise autonomously within the regulations of the discipline. It calls for a special set of *values, behaviours, and relationships including respect and care for oneself as well as patients and others, honesty, *integrity, reliability, *responsibility, communication, collaboration, *compassion, *empathy, altruism, and *advocacy – but also self-awareness and a knowledge of limits (see burnout). Major shortcomings might be reported to a professional body (such as the *General Medical Council for UK doctors).... professionalism
Health Encyclopedia