Exploration of the Impact of Empathy - Essay Example

Exploration of the Impact of Empathy What it is The Empathy Assessment Index (EAI) is ‘a 20-item self report index’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.95). The index refers to certain neural networks that are used by the brain when having to process information (Gerdes et al 2012, p.95). These networks, which are also characterized as components (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.95), are the following ones: ‘a) Affective Response, b) Perspective Taking, c) Self-Other Awareness and d) Emotion Regulation’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.95). The EAI uses these components in order to provide an accurate view in regard to the mechanisms and events that influence human behaviour (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.95). What does it measure? EAI is based on four components that are related to human behaviour. However, the key role of EAI is related to the measurement of empathy (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.94). The reason that a special tool for measuring empathy has been introduced is because empathy has been found to have a critical role in the effectiveness of social work practice (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.94). In fact, it has been proved that adolescents who are supported by social workers, who are characterized by increased empathy, have fewer chances to proceed to anti-social activities (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.94). Moreover, in practice the study of empathy as a factor influencing social work has been quite limited (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.94). In this context, EAI has been proved as a valuable tool, helping ‘not only to measure empathy but also to define empathy as a component of social work practice’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.94). According to the issues discussed above, EAI has been primarily introduced in order to support social work. However, in practice EAI has been proved to be a valuable tool for measuring empathy as related to any field. Factors involved in the measure In order to understand the role of EAI it would be necessary to refer analytically to its major components, which are four, as explained earlier. These components could be analyzed as follows: a) ‘Affective Response’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.95), is the human behaviour that it is characterized by the effort of an individual to imitate the behaviour of another person (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.84). The key characteristic of Affective Response is that a person becomes from an observer an imitator of another person’s behaviour (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.84). It can be assumed that the specific characteristic of human behaviour is critical in adolescents who can, under specific terms, imitate the anti-social behaviour of other persons (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.84); the affective response is also known as ‘emotional empathy’ (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.84); b) ‘Perspective Taking’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.95), or cognitive empathy’ (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.84) has the following characteristic: it is based on the view that an individual can proceed to certain action not because of the observation of others’ actions but because of his own perceptions in regard to a particular activity (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.84); in other words, in the context of Affective Response empathy is involuntary while in Perspective Taking, empathy is voluntary (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.84); c) ‘Self-Other Awareness’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.85), is based on the following rule: with the Self-Other Awareness a person is capable of understanding the status of another person’s emotions (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.85); for a person that lacks Self-Other Awareness the emotions released by another person will not be appropriately interpreted, causing to the first person, the observer, ‘distress rather than empathy’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.85); d) ‘Emotion Regulation’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.85); in the same context as above with Self-Other Awareness, a person that is capable in regulating his emotions is expected to understand the ‘status of emotions of another person’ (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.85) and to show empathy (Gerdes et al. 2012, p.85). Reliability, Validity and Sample Groups involved The reliability and validity of EAI has been checked through appropriately customized empirical studies. Reference is made, indicatively, to the empirical study of Gerdes, Lietz & Segal in regard to the specific subject. The sample group participated in the relevant study has been significant, a fact that increases the study’s credibility as of the issue discussed. Gerdes, Lietz & Segal (2011) developed an EAI trying to check the above tool’s reliability (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.86). Primarily, literature review was used so that ‘the components of EAI are appropriately conceptualized’ (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.86). The Index was tested in two different phases: in the first phase, ‘312 students accepted to participate in the survey’ Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.88). In the second phase, ‘232 students, from the 312 students participated in the first phase of the survey’ Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.88), offered their own responses to the Index sent to them via e-mail. The survey verified the high reliability of three, out of the four, component of EAI: ‘the affective response, the perspective taking and the self-awareness’ (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.89); the reliability of the fourth component, the emotion regulation, was proved to be just acceptable (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.89). As for the validity of the Index, it was explained that this can be evaluated only in the long term, ‘after gathering appropriate evidence’ (Gerdes, Lietz & Segal 2011, p.92). Part B - Maudsley Violence Questionnaire What it is The Maudsley Violence Questionnaire (MVQ) is a questionnaire appropriately customized so that it can offer a statistical analysis of the thoughts and beliefs that have led individuals to commit violent actions (Walker 2005, p.188). In other words, the specific questionnaire is used for assessing the violent behaviour of offenders who have been related to violent behaviour (Walker 2005, p.188). The MVQ can provide a clear view of these offenders’ motives, at least in terms of beliefs and thoughts, in regard to the violent actions in which they have been involved (Walker 2005, p.188). What does it measure? The Maudsley Violence Questionnaire (MVQ) is used in order to measure the level of a high range of conditions that can lead to violent behaviour (Walker 2005, p.187). The value of the specific Questionnaire can be identified at the following point: while numerous studies have been developed for showing the involvement of certain human feelings, such as angry or empathy in human behaviour, no tool has managed to offer a clear view of the ‘attitudes and beliefs’ (Walker 2005, p.188) that are mostly expected to lead a person to violent behaviour. In this context, the MVQ is primarily used in order to show the thoughts of individuals about the criteria on which the evaluation of an act as violent would be based (Walker 2005, p.188). In other words, the MVQ reveals the beliefs of individuals in regard to the characteristics of violent actions (Walker 2005, p.188). In this way, the categorization of human actions as violent and non-violent could be developed, on the basis that individuals have clearly stated their view as to ‘which action should be considered as acceptable’ (Walker 2005, p.188) and which should not be tolerated on the basis that it is violent. Factors involved in the measure The Maudsley Violence Questionnaire, as other tools used for evaluating the causes of violent behaviour is based on certain factors: in the context of the MVQ, violent behaviour should be considered as ‘a ‘macho’ response to a threat of the self-esteem’ (Walker & Gudjonsson 2006, p.797). This behaviour, also described as ‘machismo’ (Walker & Gudjonsson 2006, p.797) has been proved as quite usual when the self-esteem of a person is threatened (Walker & Gudjonsson 2006, p.797). Moreover, the fact that a particular event has led to the acceptance of violence, as a tool for restoring the traumatized self-esteem of a particular person (Walker & Gudjonsson 2006, p.797), can be used by a person as the justification for developing violent actions. In the above context, ‘machismo and acceptance’ (Walker & Gudjonsson 2006, p.797) have become the key factors in MVQ. Reliability, Validity and Sample Groups involved The reliability and validity of MVQ, as a tool showing the human beliefs related to violent behaviour, has been tested through a series of empirical studies. Reference is made, as an example, to one of these studies aiming to show the level of the Questionnaire’s reliability and validity and its uniqueness in regard to its role. Warnock-Parkes, Gudjonsson & Walker (2008) have tested the Questionnaire’s Reliability and Validity through a study developed ‘across 4 NHS Trusts’ (Warnock-Parkes, Gudjonsson & Walker 2008, p.835); in particular, the’ residents of forensic mental units’ (Warnock-Parkes, Gudjonsson & Walker 2008, p.835), have been chosen as potential sample used in the specific study. An MVQ has been developed based on 56 items (Warnock-Parkes, Gudjonsson & Walker 2008, p.835). At the next level, discussions have been made with the senior managers of the above Trusts so that they provide their support for the development of the study (Warnock-Parkes, Gudjonsson & Walker 2008, p.835). The criteria of the sample that would be used in the study were made known to the senior managers. Only participants that would meet the following criteria would be accepted to participate in the study: ‘male, aged 18 and over, already convicted for a criminal offence and being currently at a relatively well psychological condition’ (Warnock-Parkes, Gudjonsson & Walker 2008, p.835). Clinicians in the above Trusts were notified by their senior managers to identify the individuals that meet the above criteria. In total, 64 males that met these criteria and who accepted to participate in the study were retrieved (Warnock-Parkes, Gudjonsson & Walker 2008, p.835). The findings of the study verified that high levels of Machismo and Acceptance of Violence are related to high levels of criminal convictions (Warnock-Parkes, Gudjonsson & Walker 2008, p.837). The correlation ‘between Machismo and criminal conviction achieved a scale of p Read More