Understanding the Other: What Is Empathy?

Empathy is an innate competence that humans share with numerous creatures in the animal world. In humans, it can be cultivated and developed. Empathy is traditionally recognized as having two major components: one affective and emotional, through which we feel the emotions of others, and the other cognitive, which enables, through cold and rational analysis by literally putting oneself "in the other's shoes," the identification of their desires and objectives. What empathy should facilitate is mutual understanding; however, empathy is not a pillar of morality, nor is it a necessary or sufficient precursor to altruistic behavior. Many professional groups could benefit from empathy education, particularly in the medical field, within the framework of shared decision-making with the patient.