Empathy: The Stepchild of Critical Reflection and Transformative Learning

Journal title EDUCATIONAL REFLECTIVE PRACTICES
Author/s Edward W. Taylor
Publishing Year 2015 Issue 2014/2
Language English Pages 18 P. 5-22 File size 107 KB
DOI 10.3280/ERP2014-002001
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Historically, three constructs have been seen as central to transformative learning theory, critical reflection, dialogue, and experience (Mezirow, 1990). Learners’ experience, is seen as socially constructed, as constituting the starting point for dialogue, as the essential medium through which a transformation is promoted and developed, and as leading to critical reflection where learners question ‘the integrity of deeply held assumptions and beliefs based on prior experience (Taylor, 2009, p. 7)’. Missing in this tripartite of core components of transformative learning theory is ‘empathy’ which typically is seen as the ability to ‘subjectively experience and share in another psychological state or intrinsic feelings (Morse, et. al, 1992, p. 274)’. As a construct, empathy has been mentioned in the literature as significant to reflection specifically and generally transformative, although it is rarely defined or discussed in much depth, particularly in its relationship to the central constructs of transformative learning. Questions are raised: What is empathy and what is the role of empathy in relationship to reflection? To critical reflection? And transformative learning? Recognizing the significance of empathy what are the implications for fostering reflection? This manuscript would address these questions and review recent research on empathy, reflection and TL.

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Edward W. Taylor, Empathy: The Stepchild of Critical Reflection and Transformative Learning in "EDUCATIONAL REFLECTIVE PRACTICES" 2/2014, pp 5-22, DOI: 10.3280/ERP2014-002001