CAS CONNECT 2022

20 CONNECT 2022 E mpathy, as most people use the term, is understanding somebody else’s perspective — trying to put yourself in their shoes, trying to feel what they feel — and it is often described as a good thing. But is it really a good thing? Dr. Shannon Spaulding, associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Oklahoma State University Department of Philosophy, is focusing her research on just that question. “Many people think that empathy is a really positive thing. Americans today are so divided and people struggle to understand what the world feels like to somebody else with a different perspective,” Spaulding said. “So, intuitively, it seems like empathy is a really good tool for cutting through partisanship and division because if you can see the world from somebody else’s perspective, it motivates a different kind of response to their behavior.” You may not agree with their perspective, but you can understand it and respond with compassion, she said. However, it’s not a perfect tool, she added. “Some philosophers and psychologists have argued that empathy actually just makes things worse,” she said. “Their idea is, ‘Look at howwe use empathy.’ We use it to empathize with our in-group. We don’t actually empathize with the people we disagree with. When we empathize exclusively with people we like and people in our in-group, we make conflict even more intractable.” Empathy burnout is also a major problem, Spaulding said. “It can be exhausting to empathize, especially when there’s no easy off-ramp,” Spaulding said. “Medical professionals during COVID are a good example. There’s an unending wave of suffering and you are called to empathize over and over again, and it just wears on you. It’s difficult to do that day in and day out and live your normal life.” Spaulding decided to examine the intersection of praise and criticism of empathy. “My project is theoretical — understanding how these processes work. But there is a real practical payoff to the project. If you understand STORY HARRISON HILL | PHOTO GARY LAWSON Distancing Yourself OSU professors studying how much empathy is too much Dr. Shannon Spaulding (left) is recognized at the 2022 Researchers Reception by OSU President Kayse Shrum. CAS RESEARCH