Definition from the Treccani Dictionary
empathy sf [comp. of Greek ἐν «in» and –patios, based on the German Einfühlung ]. – In psychology, in general, the ability to understand the state of mind and emotional situation of another person, immediately, mainly without resorting to verbal communication. More specifically, the term indicates those phenomena of intimate participation and identification through which aesthetic understanding would be achieved.
To put it simply
Empathy is the ability to understand another person's feelings, thoughts and emotions as if they were your own, in other words "putting yourself in their shoes" and understanding their point of view.
It is no coincidence that it derives from the Greek “en-pathos” (to feel inside).
Why is it necessary to learn to be empathetic?
Empathy is a competence important for building relationships, not only on a personal level but also in a professional context, because:
- helps improve communication,
- allows you to resolve conflicts,
- facilitates relationship building
- and consequently affects well-being.
A digital course from the Soft Skills series can help you be more empathetic
A 15-minute micro-course to acquire tools for analyzing and understanding your own emotions and those of others, encouraging the construction of positive relationships in the work and personal context and promoting a collaborative and harmonious relational climate.