Defining The Three Types of Empathy For Medical Professionals

January 30, 2023|Animal Lovers and Med Team, Emotional Intelligence

Empathy is essential for proper emotional intelligence. In leadership, empathy is what separates mediocre managers from true leaders. To be a true leader or just a good person in general, it is important to understand empathy and its various types. In the medical profession, having an empathetic ear and spirit will make a lot of difference to the patients that you care for and your colleagues. Unfortunately, we have been taught to repress and hide this skill and it is time to bring empathy into our daily plan for the good of all. Let us take a close look at the three main forms of empathy below.

Empathic Concern

Empathic concern is one of the most common, yet least understood forms of empathy. This form is basically understanding when someone needs something from you. This sense of ability not only tells you when someone is in need, but it also helps you to determine what they need without the person expressed asking. This sense is outward-oriented and is a great way for true leaders to connect with those under their care. Not only do you feel concerned, and sympathetic but also care for others, you can make decisions based on those feelings in advance of a crisis.

Emotional Empathy

Emotional empathy is not as common, but it is very important. This is when the feelings of others can be physically felt. For the empathetic person, this may mean feeling as if what is happening to others is actually happening to you. By being able to deeply feel the emotions of those around you without overthinking, you can better meet their needs. The downside of emotional empathy is that too much can be felt with no way to filter those extra emotions. This can lead to depression or burnout if left unchecked.

Cognitive Empathy

Cognitive empathy is very important for those who are in positions of leadership. However, this is also uncommon to find in leadership. This type of empathy allows a person to understand the perspective of those around them on a deeper level. That means instead of having to hear how a person feels or even feel their emotions, they can understand their feelings intrinsically. Being able to vocalize effectively is another benefit of cognitive empathy.

What Type of Empathy Do You Use?

There are three main types of empathy; cognitive, emotional, and empathic. All three are important and have various applications. Understanding which form is your base will help you interact with people more effectively. It is common to have more than one form, or even to utilize all three. The next time you are in a complex situation, take some time to concentrate on how you are reacting. This will help you discern if you are using your head, your heart, or your gut to analyze a situation.

Until next time, be well.

-The Indigo Phoenix