Empathy is the socio-emotional competence par excellence for inclusion, as it is the mechanism that allows individuals to genuinely connect and transcend their own point of view. It manifests itself in two main components: cognitive empathy (understanding the other’s perspective) and affective empathy (feeling an appropriate emotional response to their state).
For adolescents, empathy is the glue that binds friendships and prevents social cruelty. An empathetic young person is able to anticipate the emotional damage of their actions, making them less likely to engage in bullying, teasing or ostracism. It also allows them to respond prosocially to the suffering of others, offering support and understanding to peers who are experiencing difficulties.
The empathy training offered by the project is vital for young people at risk of exclusion, as many of them come from environments where this skill was not modelled or valued. By developing empathy, adolescents learn to decipher the social cues of their peers and validate their feelings, creating an environment of mutual trust. This makes them reliable friends and social allies, which is essential for developing a deep and lasting sense of belonging and for building a school community that values mutual support and respect.
Reference: Decety, J., & Jackson, P. L. (2004). The functional architecture of human empathy. Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews, 3(2), 71-100.