Empathy, sympathy, and altruism—An evident triad based on compassion. A theoretical model for caring

Background Based on existing confusion and a suggested contradiction regarding empathy and compassion in relation to caring science as well as in clinical health care. Aim The aim of the study was to find a knowledge base for the development of clinical caring science for, empathy, sympathy altruism...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of caring sciences 2023-09, Vol.37 (3), p.862-871
Main Author: Arman, Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altruism
burnout
Caregiving
caring science
Compassion
compassion fatigue
compassion training
Confusion
Empathy
ethics
Health care
Knowledge base
Medical ethics
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
nursing theory
suffering
Sympathy
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Summary:Background Based on existing confusion and a suggested contradiction regarding empathy and compassion in relation to caring science as well as in clinical health care. Aim The aim of the study was to find a knowledge base for the development of clinical caring science for, empathy, sympathy altruism, and compassion and their mutual relationship. Design A theoretical paper. Results The text discusses the different concepts separately, considering their history, research, obstacles, and bias and then brings them together in a concept model. The conclusion shows that empathy, sympathy, and altruism have no contradictions. Instead, they together form an evident triad based on compassion. Compassion is a prerequisite and a basis for the others to work. In clinical application, empathy is metaphorically a quality coming from the head, sympathy from the heart and altruism from the hand, merged in an attitude of compassion as a motif to care. The paper also reflects on the possibilities to increase and develop a compassionate mood and capacity by education and training.
ISSN:0283-9318
1471-6712
1471-6712
DOI:10.1111/scs.13163