Empathy and emotional intelligence: What is it really about?
Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: Empathy is the "capacity" to share and understand another’s "state of mind" or emotion. Itis often characterized as the ability to “put oneself into another’s shoes”, or in some way experience the outlookor emotions of another being within oneself. Empathy is a powerful communication skill that is often misunderstoodand underused. Initially, empathy was referred to as “bedside manner”; now, however, authors and educatorsconsider empathetic communication a teachable, learnable skill that has tangible benefits for both clinicianand patient: Effective empathetic communication enhances the therapeutic effectiveness of the clinician-patientrelationship. Appropriate use of empathy as a communication tool facilitates the clinical interview, increases theefficiency of gathering information, and honours the patient. Additionally, Emotional Intelligence (EI), often measuredas an Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ), describes a concept that involves the ability, capacity, skill or aself-perceived ability, to identify, assess, and manage the emotions of one’s self, of others, and of groups. Becauseit is a relatively new area of psychological research, the concept is constantly changing. The EQ concept argues thatIQ, or conventional intelligence, is too narrow; that there are wider areas of emotional intelligence that dictate andenable how successful we are. Success requires more than IQ (Intelligence Quotient), which has tended to be thetraditional measure of intelligence, ignoring essential behavioural and character elements. We’ve all met peoplewho are academically brilliant and yet are socially and inter-personally inept. And we know that despite possessinga high IQ rating, success does not automatically follow. The aim of this review is to describe the concept of empathyand emotional intelligence, compare it to other similar concepts and clarify their importance as vital parts of effectivesocial functioning. Just how vital they are, is a subject of constant debate.
Authors: Konstantikaki V., Ioannidou F.
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2181684387