New Technologies in the Development of Empathy: Benefits and Threats
Abstract
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The objective of this analysis is to explore the potential of new technologies in enhancing the empathy skills of modern users.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research problem focuses on exploring how new technologies can be applied to foster empathy, considering both positive and negative implications. The study utilizes a critical method of analysis and synthesis of relevant literature to address this issue.
THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The study examines traditional definitions of empathy and distinguishes between the concepts of digital empathy and virtual empathy. It also identifies various ways in which new technologies can be employed to cultivate empathy skills and presents key examples of their impact, with arguments both in favor of and against their use.
RESEARCH RESULTS: New technologies can facilitate the development of empathetic interpersonal relationships by enhancing empathy skills in various ways. They offer easier access to a wide range of perspectives and narratives, which can broaden understanding and encourage empathetic attitudes in different contexts. These technologies can be used for personal growth as well as by educators, therapists, and coaches. It is crucial, however, to maintain a balance between the use of technology and the cultivation of interpersonal skills in real-world settings.
CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: Research on media-driven empathy is complex yet necessary to better grasp the multidimensional nature of empathy that is fostered through the use of new technologies. A key recommendation is to raise awareness among users regarding the implications of these technologies for empathy development. Additionally, it is important to encourage VR designers to create tools that ethically and responsibly promote empathy in users.
References
Aronson, E. (2000). Człowiek – istota społeczna [The social animal] (J. Radzicki, Trans.). Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Arystoteles. (2004). Retoryka. Retoryka dla Aleksandra. Poetyka [Rhetoric. Rhetoric for Alexander. Poetics] (H. Podbielski, Trans.). Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Borawska-Kalbarczyk, K. (2017). Technologie cyfrowe w edukacji – między immersją ucznia, a indolencją szkoły [Digital technologies in education – between student immersion and school indolence]. Konteksty Pedagogiczne, 1(8), 117−132. http://doi.org/10.19265/KP.2017.018117
Bracci, L., Biagi, F., & Thaler, I.S. (2022). Digital citizenship education in foreign language learning: Missing interrelations between European reference frameworks and drafting assessment descriptors. ICC Journal, 4(2), 5−27.
Coke, J.S., Batson, C.D., & McDavis, K. (1978). Empathic mediation of helping: A two-stage model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36(7), 752−766. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.36.7.752
Eliasz, H. (1980). O sposobach rozumienia pojęcia „empatia” [On ways of understanding the concept of empathy]. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 23(3), 470−483.
Feshbach, N.D. (1975). Empathy in children: Some theoretical and empirical considerations. Counseling Psychologist, 5(2), 25−30. https://doi.org/10.1177/001100007500500207
Friesem, Y. (2016). Empathy for the digital age: Using video production to enhance social, emotional, and cognitive skills. In S.Y. Tettegah & D.L. Espelage (Eds.), Emotions, technology, and behaviors (pp. 21−45). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801873-6.00002-9
Fuchs, T. (2014). The virtual other: Empathy in the age of virtuality. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 21(5−6), 152−173. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262976616
Goleman, J. (1997). Inteligencja emocjonalna [Emotional intelligence] (A. Jankowski, Trans.). Media Rodzina.
Hoffman, M.L. (2006). Empatia i rozwój moralny [Empathy and moral development] (O. Waśkiewicz, Trans.). Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Jiang, L., & Gao, J. (2020). Fostering EFL learners’ digital empathy through multimodal composing. RELC Journal, 51(1), 70−85. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688219898565
Konopczyński, M. (2020). Pedagogika resocjalizacyjna wobec (re)socjalizacji młodzieży w „rzeczywistości poszerzonej” [Resocialization pedagogy in the context of (re)socializing youth in “augmented ”].Resocjalizacja Polska, 19, 9−33.
Louie, A.K., Coverdale, J.H., Balon, R., Beresin, E.V., Brenner, A.M., Guerrero, A.P.S., & Roberts, L.W. (2018). Enhancing empathy: A role for virtual reality? Academic Psychiatry, 42(6), 747−752. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-018-0995-2
Mead, G.H. (1975). Umysł, osobowość, społeczeństwo [Mind, self, and society] (L. Wolińska, Trans.). Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe.
Morbitzer, J. (2015). O nowej przestrzeni edukacyjnej w hybrydowym świecie [On the new educational space in a hybrid world]. Labor et Educatio, 3, 411−430.
Nazar, J. (1990). Empatia i jej związek z cechami osobowości nauczyciela [Empathy and its relation to teacher personality traits]. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.
Oh, S.Y., Bailenson, J., Weisz, E., & Zaki, J. (2016). Virtually old: Embodied perspective taking and the reduction of ageism under threat. Computers in Human Behavior, 60, 398–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.02.007
Olszewska, A., & Żuchowska, D. (2023). Wirtualna rzeczywistość (VR) maszyną empatii? Jak VR zmienia świat społeczny i zdolności emocjonalne? [Virtual reality (VR) as an empathy machine? How VR changes the social world and emotional abilities?]. Katedra Studiów nad Społeczeństwem i Technologią WH AGH. https://sotechlab.agh.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/
Sotechlab-Maj-2023-Wirtualna-rzeczywistosc-VR-maszyna-empatii-Jak-VR-zmienia-swiat-spoleczny-i-zdolnosci-emocjonalne-2.pdf
Rembowski, J. (1989). Empatia [Empathy]. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Pańczyszyn, A. (2023, April 5). Co potrafi Replika AI i dlaczego jej użytkownicy cierpią? [What can Replika AI do and why are its users suffering?]. Enter The Code. https://enterthecode.pl/news/replika-ai/
Teding van Berkhout, E., & Malouff, J.M. (2016). The efficacy of empathy training: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(1), 32–41. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000093
Terry, C., & Cain, J. (2016). The emerging issue of digital empathy. American Journal of Pharmaceutical
Education, 80(4), 1−4. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe80458
Trzebińska, E. (1985). Empatia jako forma komunikacji interpersonalnej [Empathy as a form of interpersonal communication]. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 2, 417−437.
VHIL. (2017). Becoming homeless: A human experience. Stanford University. https://vhil.stanford.edu/downloads/becominghomeless
Wiederhold, B.K., & Riva, G. (2019). Virtual reality therapy: Emerging topics and future challenges. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 22(1), 3–6. http://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2018.29136.bkw
Wojciszke, B. (2004). Człowiek wśród ludzi. Zarys psychologii społecznej [Humans among humans: An outline of social psychology]. Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar.
Copyright (c) 2024 HORIZONS OF EDUCATION
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain the copyright to their work while granting the journal the right of first publication. The work will be simultaneously licensed under a CC BY-ND license, which permits others to share the work with proper credit given to the author and the original publication in this journal.
- Authors may enter into additional, non-exclusive agreements for the distribution of the published version of the work (e.g., posting it in an institutional repository or publishing it in another journal), provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged.
We allow and encourage authors to share their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on personal websites) both before and during the submission process, as this can foster beneficial exchanges and lead to earlier and increased citations of the published work. (See The Effect of Open Access). We recommend using any of the following academic networking platforms:
