The problem of empathy development

Abstract

The problem of empathy formation and development within the professional activity of a psychologist is analysed in the paper. The views of C. Rogers and his followers on the problem are presented, and an attempt to understand empathy as a higher mental function in the context of the cultural-historical approach is made. The psychotechnics for the development of empathy as a professional skill are analysed by the example of initial training stages within the tradition of “understanding psychotherapy” created by F. Ye. Vasilyuk.

Keywords

• empathy
• empathy formation
• the role of empathy of counseling/psychotherapy
• understanding
• higher mental function
• voluntary processes
• mediation
• interiorization
• psychotechnic development of empathy