Empathy: A Human Value Against Violence

The boom on the concept of “empathy” can be attributed to the rise of HUMANISM and the influence of CARL ROGERS, who claimed that empathy is a necessary and sufficient condition for psychological change. We now get to consider Empathy as a Human Value Against Violence.

Most authors agree to describe empathy as the ability to share affection, and this emotional response contributes a moral reason, that is, a reason that contributes to pro-social behavior. Thus, the roots of morality are in empathy, so empathizing with potential victims and sharing their discomfort, moves people to acting to help. Thus, moral development is characterized by the cultivation of moral affection or empathy. According to this theory, we can distinguish four developmental levels of empathic feeling evolving from a global empathy in which the child does not differentiate himself from the other; to a level of empathy in which the other person does not even have to be present and it is sufficient to have the information of a given situation to empathize with her. So, and as children develop the ability to form social concepts, they can also empathize with the difficulties of an entire group.
Content is available only for registered users. Please login or register