The role of empathy in fostering intercultural competence

Abstract

This chapter traces the stages of development of empathy, examines its role in intercultural competence, explores principles of empathetic literacies, namely global respect, mutuality and trust that are essential to developing comprehensive intercultural competence, and engages with empathy in the context of international higher education. The first stage of empathy is passive and serves to recognise the other as a moving, breathing, and living human being. The second stage of empathy occurs when one moves from perceiving 'global resemblance of our body-style' to being able spontaneously to transpose oneself into the self of the other. The third stage involves understanding and communication. And the final stage of empathy that Depraz offers is ethical responsibility. Empathy must be a key component of any programme designed to facilitate the development of intercultural competence. Higher education in general could benefit and build on the work done within healthcare education around the development and measurement of empathy within culturally competent care.

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