Empathy is more necessary than ever in times of pandemic, it should not be lacking in any scenario, whether public or private, it must be present in all people, in all spirits, with the aim of helping others, leading a country or simply being at home, protecting others and yourself to reduce contagion. It has never been more essential to awaken this psychological dimension.
What psychologists know very well is that we do not always effectively apply this value of our human condition. Think.
- Feeling the pain or needs of others is not the same as understanding them and deciding to help.
- Between feeling and acting there is a great chasm that not everyone dares to overcome to build bridges.
- Mobilize energies and resources for the common good.
In the end, it is the true goal of empathy: to promote the survival and well-being of the group by connecting with the emotions of others and generating behaviors capable of promoting the good of others, so simple, but sometimes so difficult.
As Daniel Goleman points out, no matter how intelligent a person is, without useful and active empathy, no one will go far.
In times of crisis and difficulty, empathy can act as a stimulus, it is a means that brings harmony between groups, identification of needs and active collaboration that is part of the group, not the architects of the conflict.
We want people to add up and not subtract, we need hearts and minds aimed at generating solutions, not staying in a passive position where we just see what others do wrong.
Let’s take a closer look at why empathy is more necessary than ever in the event of a pandemic.
In the current health crisis there is something more decisive than simply avoiding infection, some people will simply take care of themselves and their families, however, in the current situation, we need to be able to go further.
We need neighborhood support networks, those that identify, for example, an elderly person who lives alone or an elderly couple who need someone to buy.
Emotional empathy is useful because it allows us to feel each other’s reality, what we also need to work on is cognitive empathy, which understands real needs, that goes beyond emotion and makes us act to generate solutions.
We believe that health professionals are fundamentally defined by this genuine sense of empathy for patients, it is undeniable. However, if empathy is more necessary than ever in times of pandemic, it is because in the last days we are seeing clearly negative actions towards this group and others.
There are people who write threatening messages in doctors’ cars, some neighbors leave messages on the doors of these doctors, nurses or supermarket employees demanding that they find alternative housing during the pandemic, which is not correct, these behaviors generate fear, discomfort and sadness. in these people who give everything for us.
If we cannot take care of those who care for us, we will not move forward as humanity.
Daniel Goleman explains in his book Focus that there is a third type of empathy essential in the field of leadership, both commercial and political, which is compassionate empathy, in this case we are talking about an emotional, cognitive and behavioral exercise that makes us feel a real concern for others.
Selfishness, interests and lies give way to compassion that values human beings above all, which translates into real and effective actions, commitments based on this genuine closeness to people.
Empathy is more necessary than ever during a pandemic. We have a real opportunity to exercise it, to take into account what several studies reveal, such as that conducted at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, by Dr. Karen Tristen.
According to this research, active empathy, which we exercise through social support, creates stronger and happier bonds, which is reflected in life expectancy.
We rarely need this dimension so much. This may be the perfect time for our children to learn, to plant it in neighboring communities, in small towns, in large cities and, of course, internationally.
We need help and compassion both closely and far, help that a friend, a brother, a doctor, as well as a researcher who, thousands of miles from ours, is struggling to find a vaccine. Think about this and take this opportunity.