Influences on the development of empathy in children: a literature review

Empathy has been studied through the past four decades, with increasing fervor, as incidents of school killings, and apathetic practices are rampant across schools and communities around the globe. Attempts have been made to assess, underline and contain the phenomenon of apathy, violence, bullying, to the extent that individuals dishonor other’s peace and well-being. Simultaneously, in many countries, empathy-based programs have been launched, to build from the grass-root upwards, a sustainable attitude amongst children, adolescents and teenagers going forth to become empathetic and caring citizens of a global society. Empathy entails walking in another’s shoes, understanding the other person’s pain, experiences and reactions while retaining own composure and extending a helpful hand. This paper seeks to understand the influences behind the development of empathy in children. If we can estimate in an effective manner, the causes of how and why children are drawn towards the innate nature of having empathy, it would be an easier task to help them get in touch with this characteristic within themselves. It is less menial to change a young child’s perspective and nurture him or her with positive influences to build empathy, rather than trying to mould one who has been raised in an un-empathetic manner. The long term impact such research may have, includes national level empathy and prosocial skill-fostering programs, to be implemented across public and private schools, in the effort to build a healthy and harmonious society, both in theory and practice. Keywords: empathy, children, development of empathy, empathic skill