Empathy in Policy
Every day, there’s a new article, a new news report, a new story told. We see these, and maybe we get upset, angry, anxious, or maybe we become excited, rejoiced, and maybe feel like the change we wanted so badly is finally happening. What many times we as a society forget is the fact that these are not just stories, but real people. People with their own lives, families, careers, and emotions.
We don’t just forget about this in politics, but in everything. I would blame social media for an extremely large portion of this. People’s stories, traumas, and illnesses are all masked behind a screen, eliminating the viewer’s ability for true connection to the story, therefore ultimately destroying any ability to feel remorse or empathy. I honestly believe our generation has “normalized” and I could even argue “romanticized” these hardships. We forget they’re people. With this being said, the lack of empathy within people carries over to politics. And whether you want to believe it or not, politics and the policies our elected officials put in place affect almost everything in our daily lives: the price of the groceries you buy, the gas you put in your car, your ability to even drive a car, the minimum wage you make at work, the healthcare you receive, the taxes you pay, the quality of your food, the roads you drive on, accessibility to certain services and programs, the presence of armed forces, and virtually everything. But the point is, it’s not just things or programs or money that are affected; it’s people. It’s your neighbor, it’s the girl you went to middle school with, it’s your coworker, your electrician, your nail tech, your favorite restaurant’s owner, your cousin. It’s not online virtual people, it’s REAL people. As a society, I’d argue we don’t completely lack knowledge of these events. I’d argue we lack a true understanding of their depth and impact, hence contributing to our inability to fully empathize with those bearing the weight.
So, what actually is empathy? And how can one become more empathetic? As Harvard Medical School states, it “is a key aspect of emotional intelligence, which also includes the ability to identify and regulate one’s own emotions, and to use these abilities to communicate more effectively. Psychologist Carl Rogers describes empathy as ‘seeing the world through the eyes of the other, not seeing your world reflected in their eyes’” (Corliss). To be empathic, one must seek to hear others’ perspectives and emotions, ask questions, and genuinely try to understand how their experiences have shaped them into the person they are. Although it’d be nice if you could, you can’t just wake up one day and be empathetic. You have to make the effort to learn, and you have to challenge the way you perceive others. Being empathetic isn’t just something for others, but it is something that will allow you to grow as an individual. To become more empathetic, Harvard Medical School lists three key measures “to cultivate greater empathy” (Corliss).
Acknowledge your biases.
Everyone has biases/prejudices toward individuals/groups, whether we’re aware or not. We have both conscious & unconscious biases. Unconscious biases=harder to recognize. While it can be unnerving to reveal these prejudices, being aware of them can help stop them from controlling our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Ask questions sensitively.
It’s easy to understand someone who’s lived a similar life to you; it’s more difficult to connect with someone who’s life doesn’t reflect your own.
Make sure to ask questions, but make sure to do it genuinely, respectfully, and express willingness to hear a new perspective.
Listen actively
Make eye contact- enhances concentration & connection
Allow others to finish speaking/try to truly understand their words before you respond.
Avoid suggesting solutions if the person expresses negative emotions towards a situation, unless asked for advice.
Once again, being empathetic is something you must learn and understand; It’s not just something you can say you are. Your actions to strive to be empathetic must match your words. I’d say that no one has “mastered” empathy, as it is something forever evolving within oneself. This is just a reminder that everyone is human and everyone is dealing with their own challenges. No one is perfect, so in an imperfect world, simply be kind and try your best to empathize with others:)
Source: Corliss, Julie. “Want to Feel More Connected? Practice Empathy.” Harvard Health Publishing, 22 Feb. 2021, Harvard Health Blog, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/want-to-feel-more-connected-practice-empathy-2021022221992