Preface

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Researchers have also described the concept as the capacity to "walk in someone else's shoes" and see the world from their perspective. It is comprised of emotional empathy, which involves the ability to share the emotions of another person, and cognitive empathy, which is the intellectual ability to understand another person's emotions and mental state. Empathetic skill plays a key role in social life as it contributes to promoting prosocial behavior and avoiding or limiting aggressive situations. Specifically, it is essential when the protagonists of the social interaction belong to opposite social groups, such as race, age, gender, and formal or informal groups (e.g., doctor versus patient, professor versus student, caregiver versus care recipient). For example, the literature shows how sexual offenders have lower levels of both cognitive and emotional empathy than the general population. A possible reason for this is that individuals with low levels of empathy do not understand the other person's distress and thus they are unable to take the perspective of the victim.

Due to its relevance to all aspects of life and interactions with others, empathy has received interest and attention from social science and neuroscience to understand the mechanisms behind empathetic skills and the possibility to train them. From the neuroscience point of view, it has been investigated that the empathetic relationship involves mirror neurons that are activated when someone observes and experiences emotions and that the medial prefrontal cortex is primarily involved. Alternatively, clinical psychology has demonstrated how the ability to be empathetic moderates levels of depression and anxiety and contributes to increasing positive emotions. However, it is interesting how often empathy and compassion, the latter of which is the feeling of care and concern for others, are interchangeable and how sometimes excessive levels of empathy can generate compassion fatigue.

Regarding empathy training programs, in the last decade, virtual reality (VR) was defined as an empathy machine. VR is a tridimensional and immersive environment and, thanks to the head-mounted display, permits the user to embody another body and feel the emotions of that avatar.

This book discusses advanced research on empathy and its social impact. Chapters cover theoretical models and innovative research in the field of empathy with experimental validation and high scientific value.

**II**

**Chapter 9 143**

The Development of an Empathy Curriculum (Empathy in Health)

*Konstantina Savvoulidou, Nikos Strimpakos, Christiana Knais, Melissa Horlait,* 

for Healthcare Students Using VR Technology

*by Alexia Papageorgiou, Julia Leinweber, Kerstin Böhm,* 

*Nikos Papastamatiou and Chrystalleni Papadopoullou*

*Constantina Constantinou, Ourania Kolokotroni, Eleni Kapreli,* 

We would like to express our appreciation to all the contributing authors and their respective institutions. This book would not have been possible without our publisher IntechOpen and Author Service Manager Mrs. Dajana Jusic.

> **Sara Ventura, Ph.D.** Institute Polibienestar, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

**Chapter 1**

**Abstract**

its development in HCPs.

**1. Introduction**

secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma

**1.1 Empathy and compassion in the healthcare profession**

care requires kindness, empathy, and sensitivity [3].

From Empathy to Compassion

Fatigue: A Narrative Review of

Evidence is clear regarding the importance of empathy in the development of effective relationships between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients in the delivery of successful healthcare. HCPs have pledged to relieve patient suffering, and they value the satisfaction felt from caring for their patients. However, empathy may lead to negative consequences for the empathiser. If there is a personal identification with the emotions of the distressed person, empathic concern may evolve into personal distress leading to compassion fatigue over time. A narrative review was used to explore the connection between empathy and compassion fatigue. A search of MEDLINE, PsychINFO and CINAHL resulted in 141 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. The results included in this chapter explore the practical implications of empathy in relation to compassion fatigue, examining the impact on HCPs as well as the potential risk factors and effective strategies to reduce compassion fatigue. The negative impact of compassion fatigue can have a severe impact on HCP well-being and can in turn impact the care received by the patient. Nevertheless, and despite existing effective strategies to support and manage those experiencing compassion fatigue, more needs to be done to prevent

**Keywords:** empathy, compassion fatigue, health, healthcare profession, burnout,

Compassion and respect for human dignity is enshrined in the codes of conduct for healthcare professionals (HCPs). Providing high-quality compassionate care is a fundamental aim of the helping professions and provides them with job satisfaction and a sense of value [1]. Being treated with compassion also has many patient benefits including increasing compliance with professional advice, improving satisfaction with services and enhancing health and quality of life [2]. Providing compassionate

Implications in Healthcare

*Jane Graves, Caroline Joyce and Iman Hegazi*

### **Chapter 1**

We would like to express our appreciation to all the contributing authors and their respective institutions. This book would not have been possible without our

> **Sara Ventura, Ph.D.** Institute Polibienestar, University of Valencia,

> > Valencia, Spain

publisher IntechOpen and Author Service Manager Mrs. Dajana Jusic.
