What Role Does Empathy Play In Aesthetics

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Empathy has a major role to play between a therapist and the patient. It helps the therapist/counselor to strengthen his relationship with the patient and help him with his current scenario.

Empathy has been derived from Einfuhlung, and was discussed in the works of Aesthetics by Robert Vischer (1873). Later Theodor Lipps used this concept to explain how people come to know their mental state. For him Einfuhlung meant ‘feeling into’ referred to the process of inner resonance and inner imitation1. Edward Titchener introduced the term Empathy in 1909. By this time Empathy had become an important part of Psychology, Aesthetics, Philosophy. Initially Empathy was connected with understanding.
According to Carl Rogers, an American Psychologist, empathy refers to the process in which therapist senses the feelings of the patient which he is experiencing and communicates the acceptance of the same to the patient. For him it was really powerful to listen to a person to empathize. Carl Rogers was one of the primary people who understood the importance …show more content…

Delicacy is required as it is sensitive for the patient. If a patient for example is going through a divorce, the therapist cannot directly ask the patient to give him a divorce and live separately, he has to frame things in a manner that the patient can handle the situation by consoling her, pleasing her, listening to what he or she says. Therapist should be careful, shouldn’t disclose this about which the patient is unaware. Higher degree of empathy is important factor so as to bring in change and learning. Therapist has a major role to play as he actively manipulates situations for the benefit of the situation. The therapist should be a confident companion who is available for the

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