Can We Talk About Empathy? Communication Students’ Perspectives

Abstract

Empathy is an under-researched yet vital communication skill. This mixed-methods study examined undergraduate communication students’ understanding of empathy in education and work. Using a survey to measure empathy levels and interviews to examine students’ understanding, the results demonstrated that students were generally empathetic, although men scored lower. Most defined empathy with either cognitive or affective components, rarely both, and described its value for relationships and communication careers, especially in understanding audiences, but noted risks like burnout. These findings give educators a starting point for understanding students’ empathy, and gaps in understanding demonstrate a need to integrate empathy into curricula.