[Shawn Ellis]

Is it possible to learn emotional empathy and feel a connection with others?

[IceCreamKid]

Originally Posted by Shawn Ellis

Is it possible to learn emotional empathy and feel a connection with others?

I think it is possible to learn what empathy is, yes. I also think it is possible to develop an understanding of how we are connected to other people.

[MsLady]

I believe so, yes. It may not be innate but it's a behavioural skill that can be learned.

[Iloivar]

Can Empathy Be Taught? | Psychology Today Canada

Children learn empathy growing up, but can we train adults to have more of it?

What Is Empathy, and Can Empathy Be Taught? - PubMed

If you're interested.

[bpcyclist]

Empathy is a set of skills.

[eskielover]

My understanding is that empathy is feeling what others feel while sympathy is understanding what others feel without actually feeling the feeling yourself.

Honestly I would rather have sympathy than empathy because I have enough of my own feelings to deal with, I don't need to feel others feelings on top of that....BUT I think it is very important to UNDERSTAND how others are feeling.

I honestly don't think you can be taught empathy...I think it just happens with some people who tend to be more emotional in the first place. I do think that people can learn to be sensitive to others & learn to observe others emotions & be understanding of them.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by eskielover

My understanding is that empathy is feeling what others feel while sympathy is understanding what others feel without actually feeling the feeling yourself.

Honestly I would rather have sympathy than empathy because I have enough of my own feelings to deal with, I don't need to feel others feelings on top of that....BUT I think it is very important to UNDERSTAND how others are feeling.

I honestly don't think you can be taught empathy...I think it just happens with some people who tend to be more emotional in the first place. I do think that people can learn to be sensitive to others & learn to observe others emotions & be understanding of them.

This is close to what I believe.

It's very important to understand how others are feeling and to be sensitive towards and understanding towards others, since all people deserve respect.

Originally Posted by Shawn Ellis

Is it possible to learn emotional empathy and feel a connection with others?

Context. It all depends on the context of how you know the person, where you interact, and why you interact.

Coworkers you can sympathize with.

Family members and friends whom you are close to, you are more likely to empathize with.

Acquaintances you can sympathize with.

You can learn to empathize through practice.

Empathy vs Sympathy - Difference and Comparison | Diffen

[Fury]

They say, the longer you are around a person or behavior, the more likely you are to adapt those behaviors into your own personality.

There also exists data which supports the notion that it takes 14-30 days to make or break a habit.

Using this logic, it can be assumed that one can condition themselves to a specific behavior or pattern, even those of an emotional or mental state.

[mote.of.soul]

Originally Posted by Shawn Ellis

Is it possible to learn emotional empathy and feel a connection with others?

If by empathy you mean the basic idea as described in dictionaries all around the globe, then yes, I do believe you can learn or develop empathy.

As an adolescent I used to always ask myself, "Gosh, I wonder what it must feel like to be them in that horrible situation?" - because obviously 'they're' human beings too, like me. And if you have a caring side, perhaps you like animals or feel sorry for people in bad situations etc., (or happy for people having happy experiences too, don't forget) then I think you're basically halfway to knowing what empathy is. The other half is integrating that aspect of yourself into your overall character and honoring it, and allowing it to grow.

That's what I've tried to do, as it seems to be the only positive trait I have! 🤣👍(joke)

[jamesethan]

Enthusiastic Empathy, much the same as is sounds, includes legitimately feeling the feelings that someone else is feeling. You've most likely known about the expression "empath," which means an individual with the capacity to completely take on the passionate and mental condition of another. The statement that rings a bell is: "I have a ton of emotions."

[JForbes369]

Yes it is possible. Most individuuals hve this ability innately we simply dont acknowledge it. The perfect example of what i mean is... I am sure that everyone on here pretty much ar one time or another had walked into room or house that a couple had just been fighting in and has litterally felt the tension, frustation, or anger still hanging in the air. This is empathy u are sensing the energy of those individuals. Practicing and focusing u can increase your capbility. I am extremely empathic to the point it the energy of others wears on me at time i found i had to learn to block others negative emotions or i would literally suck them in. The result it could be 10 min after exiting the scene or a couple hours but their have been times where all of a sudden i just wanted to snap, itched for someone, any one to start something with me. I wanted to fight. After the first couple time i begn to realize that what i had been feeling was not from me and started to ask myself why i felt this way and concluded that i had been affected by others energy. I mean increased empathy is great for aiding in reading other, allowing for deeper understanding and connection not just to other people but to everything around u. It helps with communicating to others. But there are downfalls as i mentioned above. Also being able to sense what state another indivual is in emotionally can seriously irrate them especially if it isnt something they feel like talking about and u point it out or prod into why u are reading whatever emotional energy that they are exuding. If u decide to increase your empathic abilities one of the first things once u start to get the knack of it is to protect urself from others engery when it is not suitable to benefit u in any way or form, and always take time way from others as ur ability increases in or around nature is best, really anywhere outside to collect yourself and recharge. The more empathic an individual is the more they will find that they need for me time will pull on them.