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Advancing the Sociology of Empathy: A Proposal.
- Source :
-
Symbolic Interaction . Aug2017, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p414-435. 22p. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Empathy is an increasingly popular term in the public sphere and in academia. Although the common belief is that empathy is a 'psychological' topic, sociologists have made important contributions to this conversation. The goal of this article is to provide a theoretical effort in advancing the sociology of empathy. In the first part of the paper, I review classical and contemporary statements on empathy. I identify Charles H. Cooley as an important precursor of the sociology of empathy, and discuss how contemporary interactionists have further developed this notion. Based on these previous insights, I next propose a preliminary framework for the study of the social construction of empathy. This framework is presented in two steps. First, I introduce a vocabulary based on interpretivist concepts: empathy frames, empathy rules, and empathy performances. Next, I coin the idea of empathy paths. I theorize three ideal-typical empathy paths: self-transcendent, therapeutic, and instrumental. Throughout this presentation, I use empirical cases to illustrate the applicability of this framework. In the conclusion, I show how sociologists can inform public understandings of the meaning of empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01956086
- Volume :
- 40
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Symbolic Interaction
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 124563312
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/symb.306