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Culture of Empathy Builder:  Anita Nowak
http://j.mp/11wasU8

Anita Nowak: Dissertation: Pedagogy of Empathic Action as Informed by Social Entrepreneurs

In this interview, Anita Nowak talks about her PhD dissertation titled 'Introducing a Pedagogy of Empathic Action as Informed by Social Entrepreneurs.''

"I contend that our innate human empathy can be leveraged as a tool of social change through the practice of Empathic Action. Furthermore I argue that a Pedagogy of Empathic Action offers the best means by which to foster this."

The dissertation addresses five questions;

  1. What is empathy? 

  2. What is Empathic Action?  Acting on empathy for another/others.

  3. What group of individuals is already practicing Empathic Action?

  4. How might narrative inquiry interviews with such individuals inform a Pedagogy of Empathic Action? 

  5.  What are the broad strokes  of such a pedagogical approach?
    Sub Conferences:
    Education and Workplace

 

Links

 

 

 

 

 

 

The power of empathy: Anita Nowak at TEDxMontrealWomen
"Empathy is the most positively disruptive force on the planet -- but only when it leads to Empathic Action. In this talk, we will explore how empathy can be leveraged for the ultimate win-win: personal well-being and social good."

 

 

 

 

 

Anita Nowak: Dissertation: Pedagogy of Empathic Action as Informed by Social Entrepreneurs 

 

(Video Transcriptions: If you would like to take empathic action and create a transcription of this video, check the volunteers page.  The transcriptions will make it easier for other viewers to quickly see the content of this video.)

 

 

 

Outline of the Thesis
 

INTRODUCING A PEDAGOGY OF EMPATHIC ACTION AS INFORMED BY SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS

ANITA THERESA NOWAK

Department of Integrated Studies in Education

 

Overview:  I contend that our innate human empathy can be leveraged as a tool of social change through
the practise of Empathic Action. Furthermore I argue that a Pedagogy of Empathic Action offers the best means by which to foster this.

 

5 Questions

What is empathy?

What is Empathic Action?  Acting on empathy for another/others.

What group of individuals is already practicing Empathic Action?

How might narrative inquiry interviews with such individuals inform a Pedagogy of Empathic Action?

What are the broad strokes of such a pedagogical approach?

 

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.0 Opening remarks p. 1
1.1 Articulating a research problem and my three research questions p. 5
1.2 Organization of the chapters p. 8
     1.2.1 Chapter 2: Understanding empathy through a literature review p. 8
     1.2.2 Chapter 3: Exploring social entrepreneurship through
       a second literature review p. 9
     1.2.3 Chapter 4: Narrative inquiry as a methodology and
            a discussion of my research findings p. 10
     1.2.4 Chapter 5: Introducing a pedagogy of empathic action p. 10
     1.2.5 Chapter 6: Conclusion p. 11

 

CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING EMPATHY THROUGH A LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Opening remarks p. 12
2.1 Defining empathy p. 12
     2.1.1 Tracing the differences between pity, sympathy, compassion & empathy
2.2 The conceptual evolution of the term empathy p. 21
     2.2.1 Empathy in the era of early Chinese philosophy p. 21
     2.2.2 Empathy in the era of scholasticism p. 22
     2.2.3 Empathy in the era of empiricism p. 22
     2.2.4 Empathy in the era of the enlightenment p. 23
     2.2.5 Empathy in the era of post-rationalism p. 23
     2.2.6 Empathy in the era of modern aesthetics p. 24
     2.2.7 Empathy in the era of hermeneutics p. 25
     2.2.8 Empathy in the era of modern psychology, psychotherapy & health p. 25
     2.2.9 Empathy and neuroscience p. 27
     2.2.10 Empathy and evolution p. 28
     2.2.11 Empathy and the nature vs. nurture debate p. 29
     2.2.12 Empathy and intersubjectivity/phenomenology p. 32
     2.2.13 Empathy and sustainability p. 34
     2.3.14 Empathy, morality and justice p. 35
     2.2.15 Empathy and public policy p. 36
2.3 Empathy and education p. 38
     2.3.1 Examples of empathy-oriented programs and curriculum p. 39
     2.3.2 Four pro empathy-education scholars p. 41
          2.3.2.1 Nel Noddings p. 41
          2.3.2.2 Matthew Schertz p. 45
          2.3.2.3 Megan Boler p. 48
          2.3.2.4 Susan Verducci p. 50
2.4 Introducing and conceptualizing ‘Empathic Action’ p. 52

 

CHAPTER 3: EXPLORING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH A SECOND LITERATURE REVIEW
3.0 Opening remarks p. 56
3.1 Defining entrepreneurship p. 57
3.2 Understanding the context that gave rise to social entrepreneurship p. 58
3.3 Defining social entrepreneurship p. 62
3.4 Social entrepreneurship aligned with Empathic Action p. 73
 

 

CHAPTER 4: NARRATIVE INQUIRY AS A METHODOLOGY AND A DISCUSSION OF MY RESEARCH FINDINGS
4.0 Opening remarks p. 77
4.1 The narrative turn p. 79
4.2 My chosen research methodology p. 81
     4.2.1 My data collection process p. 81
     4.2.2 My research participants p. 83
4.3 The significance of my research p. 89
4.4 My narrative inquiry findings p. 91
4.5 Analysis and discussion p. 141

 

CHAPTER 5: INTRODUCING A PEDAGOGY OF EMPATHIC ACTION
5.0 Opening remarks p. 151
5.1 Critical pedagogy p. 152
     5.1.1 Banking p. 154
     5.1.2 Student-centered dialogue and problem-posing 
     5.1.3 Conscientization p. 158
     5.1.4 Praxis p. 159
5.2 Pedagogy of the privileged p. 162
     5.2.1 Confidence-shaking and confidence-building p. 165
5.3 Social justice education p. 169
     5.3.1 Educating for a new consciousness p. 171
     5.3.2 Global citizenship education p. 172
     5.3.3 Education for sustainable development & socioecological justice p. 173
 

 

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION
6.0 Opening remarks p. 176
     6.1 Research significance p. 179
     6.2 Limitations and suggested research for the future p. 180
     6.4 Parting thoughts p. 181


REFERENCES p. 182

 

 

 

  • Empathic Action

  • What is Empathy?

    • Cognitive Empathy - imaginative

    • Affective Empathy - feeling - cuddling baby story

  • Empathy trumps, sympathy, pity, compassion

  • Altruism continuum 

    • pity - look down, paternalistic

    • sympathy -

    • compassion -

    • empathy - a common humanity - equality

  • neuroscience - says we're born with empathy

    • Jeremy Rifkin

    • Frans De Waal

    • Roman Krznaric

  • we can learn empathy

    • neuro pathways - snow path

    • mirror neurons

  • Empathic Action

    • wicked problems

      • poverty, climate change, etc

      • injustices

  • Benefits of empathy

  • Interdependence

  • global empathic action revolution

 

The power of empathy: Anita Nowak at TEDxMontrealWomen
"Empathy is the most positively disruptive force on the planet -- but only when it leads to Empathic Action. In this talk, we will explore how empathy can be leveraged for the ultimate win-win: personal well-being and social good."

 

  • I talk with students: Trip on Spaceship to earth

    • many problems of the world

  • People deal with this differently

    • resignation

    • or engage

  • Light of a single candle

  • The Role of Empathy

    • lottery metaphor - role of chance of birth

    • ovarian lottery

  • Workshop - woman felt empowered

    • Cognitive empathy - imagine yourself in someone else shoes

    • Affective empathy - feel what someone else is feeling

    • come together the power is huge

  • Empathy trumps: pity, sympathy, compassion

  • altruistic continuum : pity ->  sympathy ->  compassion ->  empathy

    • pity -> person suffering is inferior, contempt - look down on them

    • sympathy ->

    • compassion -> 

    • Empathy - see the common humanity

  • Empathy research on fire

    • we are all born with capacity for empathy

    • can practice

    • brain plasticity

  • what about having empathic thoughts and action

    • empathic action -  reward centers light up

    • reduces anxiety, stress, depression

    • heightens immune system functions

    • elevates self esteem

    • improves personal relationships

    • booths workplace productive

  • We lack a sense of interdependence

  • A time who has come for global empathy revolution

 

 

 

Empathy: Keynote Speaker Dr. Anita Nowak  UMN Duluth

1.

4 key questions

1.  Why is empathy important? need global empathy.

2.  What is empathy and empathic action? theory

3.  What's in it for you and why should you care?

4.  Top 1o practices for changing the world?

 

 

1.  Why is empathy important? we need global empathy.

lot's of problems

  • disparity of wealth

  • hunger

  • clean water

  • health problems of children

  • bonded labor

  • poor education

  • climate change

  • Systemic empathic failure

  • Obama - Says Empathy deficit

  • Two world views about what to do

    • snow flake - I didn't do the avalanche

    • Candle in the darkness

  • What's this got to do with empathy?

  • My Story

    • marketing - was in profit mindset

    • heard about female genital mutilation, etc

    • 2008 - article about changing the world - social entrepreneurship

    • solve social problems - changed dissertation

2.  What is empathy and empathic action? theory

  • About Empathy - We are empathic beings by nature.

    • Frans De Waal

      • We are cooperative

    • Jeremy Rifkin

      • humans not just self interested but empathic

  • Definition of empathy

    • standing in someone else's shoes

    • many different definitions

    • Is in a lot of different disciplines

    • is it affective or cognitive empathy?

    • active or passive?

  • Continuum: pity -> sympathy -> compassion -> empathy   (less to -> more equal)

    • Pity - look down - power differential

    • Sympathy - fellow feeling

    • Compassion - co-suffering - moral bond

    • Empathy 

      • seen as equal

  • Definition- symbiotic fusion affective and cognitive - level playing field

    • innate capacity

    • positive experience

    • feel common humanity

    • devoid of power differences

    • common humanity

    • mirror neurons

    • neural pathways

  • Empathy is not enough

    • Empathic Action - involved - not spectators

    • altruistic action

    • Trout - empathy is not the ultimate guide in alleviating suffering

    • Empathic Action -

27:30 - What's in it for you and why should you care?

  • joy

  • improved health  and immunity to illness and disease

  • increased self esteem and self worth

  • productivity

  • better relationships

  • better social competence

  • sense of abundance

  • meaningful life

  • Do Empathic Action -  must be selfless

  • 29:00 Light ups the pleasure centers - same a sex

    • 2003 Dutch neuro scientist 

    • Gert Holstege  release of dopamine. brain's reward circuit,

30:30 - 4.  Top 10 practices for changing the world?

  • become well informed

  • travel

  • take risks

  • true to yourself

  • be the change

  • tenacity

  • be positive

  • start now

  • bream big

  • flex empathy muscle

  • Quotes:

    • Empathy is the soul of democracy - Rifkin - 2009

    • Empathy is central to our humanity - Trout - 2009

    • Empathy makes us human. Pink - 2005

    • Empathy is the grand theme of our time. De Waal - 2009

    • Empathic action rocks - Anita