Empathy and the Problem of Definition
"In the behavioral sciences it is often very difficult to know if we are on the same page. This confusion plagues many of our discussions. How do we define our terms? How do we manage useful disagreement? Are we even talking about the same thing? These issues surfaced immediately at The Helix Center's roundtable on empathy and altruism given the various commitments people have when they use these concepts."

 

Intentional Action, Empathy and Psychotherapy

"Empathically, I am aware that what a person’s behavior signifies to me may be different from what it means to them. I also keep in mind that they may not appreciate what I see as the significance of their behavior, regardless of how compelling the evidence. I don’t have a pipeline to the truth. I to Thou involves being clear that mystery and uncertainty remains."
 

Regaining Empathy

"Empathy involves the accurate communication of an appreciation of another person's ongoing intentional actions in a fashion that the other person can tolerate. This appreciation requires understanding the other person's view of their world and of their place in it. Empathy is an ordinary feature of life, a natural aspect of the unfolding improvisation of our linked behaviors. We act together from our understanding of what the other is trying to do." Adapted from my “The Parameters of Empathy:  Core Considerations for Psychotherapy and Supervision”, The Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 10, in press.

Schwartz, W. (in press) The parameters of empathy: core considerations for psychotherapy and supervision. Advances in Descriptive Psychology vol. 10.
 

Altruism and Empathy The Helix Center for Interdisciplinary Investigation of the New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute