International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 1448 ISSN 2229-5518 EMPATHY : DEVELOPING PEOPLE SKILLS IN LANGUAGE LABORATORY If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care. – Theodore Roosevelt 1Mr. Madhav U, Assistant professor of English, VVIT, Nambur, Guntur, and a research scholar on ELT in K. L University, A.P., India. 2Prof. M. V Raghu Ram, Professor of English & Head of the department, VVIT, Guntur, A.P, India. 3Mrs. Kiranmayi . K , Assistant professor of English, VVIT, Guntur, A.P, India. Abstract The 20th century was the age of introspection, wherein self-help and therapy culture encouraged us to believe that the best way to understand who we are and how to live was to introspect. Undoubtedly 21st century, is the age of empathy, an absolutely vital personal attributes to excel in People skills and to build everlasting human relationships. This differential outlook has been practically presented in this paper with opinions given by different researchers & scientists coupled with our practical experiences as Life skills facilitators. Moreover, it is substantially elaborated how empathy can be developed through language laboratory activities. Index Terms: Empathy,IJSER Introspect, Personal attributes, people skills, human relations, substantially, enhanced. 1 INTRODUCTION Developing an empathic approach is perhaps the most significant effort one can make toward EMPATHY is a potential psychological motivator improving one's people skills. When you for helping others in distress, and can be defined understand others, they'll probably want to as the ability to feel or imagine another person’s understand you – and this is how one can start to emotional experience. The ability to empathize is build cooperation (human networks), an important part of social and emotional collaboration, and teamwork. Perhaps through development, affecting an individual’s behavior effective communication and interpersonal skills toward others and the quality of social one can empathize with others and this paves the interaction. IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 1449 ISSN 2229-5518 way for cultivation of healthy rapport, a strong empathy is the fuel that keeps relationships base for interpersonal skills. running smoothly. The fact that empathy is an Moving from the information age to that important component of effective relationships of the Conceptual age, Daniel Pink predicts that has been proven: In studies by Dr Antonio power will reside with those who have strong Damasio outlined in his book: "Descartes' right-brain (interpersonal) qualities. Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human He also suggests six areas that are vital to Brain", medical patients who had damage to the succeed in life. One of which is empathy; (the part of the brain associated with empathy showed ability to imagine yourself in someone else's significant deficits in relationship skills, even position), to imagine what they feel, to though their reasoning and learning abilities understand what makes people tick, to create remained intact. relationships and to be caring of others: All of World literature distinguishes four levels of which is very difficult to outsource or automate, empathy, identified by the Italian researcher and yet is increasingly important to business. Daniele Trevisani (2005) that examines the Empathy is also particularly critical to leadership dimensions useful for applying empathic development in this age of young, independent, component to an intercultural setting: highly marketable and mobile workers. In a 1 popular Harvard Business Review article entitled Behavioral empathy: 2 Emotional empathy: "What Makes a Leader?", Dr Daniel Goleman IJSER3 Relational empathy: isolates three reasons why empathy is so 4 Cognitive empathy (understanding of important: the increasing use of teams, (which he different cognitive or prototypes): refers to as "cauldrons of bubbling emotions"), Indeed, empathy is a valued currency. It allows the rapid pace of globalization (with cross us to create bonds of trust, it gives us insights cultural communication easily leading to into what others may be feeling or thinking; it misunderstandings) and the growing need to helps us understand how or why others respond retain talent. to situations, it also sharpens our "people acumen" and informs our decisions. 2 LITERARY REVIEW Moreover, it’s the buzz word of scientists and While empathy is a right brain business leaders, education experts and political activity, it is far from being a activists. touchy-feely topic. At its core, IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 1450 ISSN 2229-5518 Empathy is not just a way to extend the Another growing focus of investigation is how boundaries of your moral universe. According to empathy affects cross-cultural relationships. new research, it’s a habit we can cultivate to According to a theory, there are seven improve the quality of our own lives. components involved in the effectiveness of interracial communication; out of these empathy 2.1 Major Theories & Empirical Findings was found to be one that is learnable and has to In recent years, there has been growing do with perceptiveness and receptiveness. investigatory focus on how empathy specifically A study by Robin Michelle Keillor hypothesized provokes helping behavior. Current studies in that empathy training would not only increase the neuroscience have allowed us to understand the measured level of relational empathy among the neurological basis of the human mind’s ability to individuals in the experimental group when understand and process emotion. Present studies compared to the control group but also enhance provide the opportunity to notice the activation the communication skills. of mirror neurons and attempt to explain the basic processes of empathy. By isolating these 2.2 RESEARCH mirror neurons, and measuring the neural basis A formal definition of Empathy is the ability to for human mind reading and emotion sharing identify and understand another's situation, abilities- Science has come one step closer to feelings and motives. It's our capacity to finding the reason for reactions like empathy. IJSERrecognize the concerns other people have. Neuro scientists have already discovered that It enables us to learn more about people and people scoring high on empathy tests have relationships with people - it is a desirable skill especially busy mirror neuron systems in their beneficial to ourselves, others and society. brains (Dr. Christian Keysers). Empathy is a spontaneous sharing of affect, provoked by 2.3 EMPATHY IS NOT SYMPATHY witnessing and sympathizing with another’s There is an important distinction between emotional state. In a way we mirror or mimic the empathy and sympathy. emotional response that we would expect to feel To empathize is feel how others feel, to see the in that condition or context. world as they do. Empathy with the people in As it is stated in empathy we feel are the the example above would require for every one emotions of others, which makes it both affective of us living in materialistic world. and cognitive by most psychologists. IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 1451 ISSN 2229-5518 It may not always be easy, or even possible, to pioneered research in effective psychotherapy empathize with others but through good and teaching which espoused that empathy communication skills and some imagination we coupled with unconditional positive regard or can work towards more empathetic feelings. caring for students and authenticity or Research has suggested that individuals who can congruence were the most important traits for a empathize enjoy better relationships with others therapist or teacher to have. Other research and and greater well-being through life. publications by Tausch, Aspy, Roebuck. Lyon, and meta-analyses by Cornelius-White, 3 EMPATHY THROUGH LANGUAGE LAB corroborated the importance of these people- ACTIVITIES centered traits. When ELCS lab activities (Role play(s),Debates, Group Dynamics & findings and group tasks, 3.1 FINDINGS AND RESULTS In group dynamics students; etc) are facilitated, students consciously; listen – truly listen to people. Pay attention, physically and mentally to avoid interruptions. what's happening. Tune into non-verbal communication. Listen carefully, and note the key words and This is the way that people often phrases that people use. communicate what they think or feel, even Respond encouragingly to the central when their verbal communication says message. IJSER something quite different. Be flexible – prepare to change direction as Practice the "93 percent rule". (We know the other person's thoughts and feelings also from a famous study by Professor Emeritus, change. Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, when An important objective of the method Learning communicating about feelings and attitudes, by Sharing (LbS) is to train the students words – the things we say – account for only systematically. In order to reflect continuously 7 percent of the total message that people on the mental processes of the other students, receive. The other 93 percent of the message they tend to transmit updated