{"id":12001,"date":"2017-09-08T11:12:34","date_gmt":"2017-09-08T10:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/?p=12001"},"modified":"2021-01-17T23:00:24","modified_gmt":"2021-01-17T23:00:24","slug":"ux-designers-improve-empathy-better-designer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/blog\/ux-designers-improve-empathy-better-designer\/","title":{"rendered":"UX Designers: How To Improve Your Empathy To Be A Better\u00a0Designer"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Do you often hear the word \u2018empathy\u2019 <\/em>at work?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Do you find that it gets thrown around too much in the world of design?<\/p>\n

Do you know what it means?<\/p>\n

Would you like to be able to improve your empathy<\/em> <\/strong>and become a better designer in the process?<\/p>\n

During my time as a designer, I\u2019ve heard the word empathy<\/em> a lot, too much if I\u2019m honest. When we study user experience, we\u2019re told to have lots of it for our users.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know a lot about empathy. The process of researching the topic helps me to reflect on it more, and improve my understanding of it.<\/p>\n

Before doing my research for this article, I thought of empathy as putting yourself in someone else\u2019s shoes<\/em>. After digging around I found that there much more to it. Here what\u2019s covered in this article:<\/p>\n

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  1. What is empathy?<\/li>\n
  2. Three types of empathy?<\/li>\n
  3. How it works?<\/li>\n
  4. Why we need it?<\/li>\n
  5. The role of empathy in design<\/li>\n
  6. How we can improve our empathy<\/li>\n
  7. How to bring empathy into your design work<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our\u00a0soul\" - Desmond Tutu<\/span><\/p>\n

    What is\u00a0empathy?<\/h2>\n

    \"Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another.\"<\/span><\/p>\n

    It allows understanding not only of other\u2019s beliefs, values, and ideas but also the significance that their situation has for them and their associated feelings (Rogers, 1951).<\/p>\n

    The English word empathy<\/em> comes from the Ancient Greek<\/a> word empatheia<\/em>, meaning \u2018physical affection or passion.<\/em>\u2019 Empathy is the ability to share and understand the emotions of others.<\/p>\n

    What is\u00a0sympathy?<\/h3>\n

    The verbal and nonverbal expression of sorrow or dismay (Morse et al, 1992).<\/p>\n

    What is compassion?<\/h3>\n

    Active participation in another individual\u2019s suffering (Schantz, 2007).<\/p>\n

    4 types of\u00a0empathy<\/h2>\n

    There are four ways to look at empathy:<\/p>\n

    1. Affective Empathy<\/h3>\n

    This is the ability to share the emotions of others.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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    People who show a high level of affective empathy feel what others feel.<\/strong> For example if they see someone hurt themselves they don\u2019t literally feel their pain, but they do have a sensation of that person\u2019s pain within themselves.<\/p>\n

    A good example, could be a designer working on a website designed to help divorced couples. If that designer has experience of divorce, they would likely have a strong emotional sensation of affective empathy.<\/p>\n

    2. Cognitive Empathy<\/h3>\n

    This is understanding someone\u2019s thoughts and emotions, in a rational, rather than emotional sense.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Also, know as \u2018perspective taking,\u2019 cognitive empathy is deliberate. It\u2019s putting you in someone else\u2019s shoes but without fully engaging with their emotions. This type of empathy is more by thought rather than feeling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    3. Compassionate empathy \/ Empathic\u00a0concern<\/h3>\n

    \"With this kind of empathy we not only understand a person\u2019s predicament and feel with them, but are spontaneously moved to help, if needed.\" - Paul Ekman.<\/p><\/span><\/blockquote>\n

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    <\/p>\n

    Empathic concern is often confused with empathy. To empathise is to respond to another\u2019s perceived emotional state by experiencing feeling of a similar sort. Compassionate empathy or empathic concern not only includes empathising, but also entails having a positive regard concern for the other person<\/strong> (Wikipedia).<\/p>\n

    4. Emotional Self-Regulation<\/h3>\n

    \"This refers to the ability to regulate one\u2019s emotions. Emotional regulation is a complex process that involves initiating, inhibiting, or modulating one\u2019s state or behaviour in a given situation.\" -
    \n Wikipedia.<\/span>
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    <\/p>\n

    The is the regulation of empathy that a person may have<\/strong>. Doctors and nurses need to be strong in emotional self-regulation to separate their jobs from their emotions.<\/p>\n

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    \"Empathy is the most radical of human\u00a0emotions.\" - Gloria Steinem<\/p><\/span><\/blockquote>\n

    How does empathy\u00a0work?<\/h2>\n

    Scientists have long speculated that some aspects of empathy can be traced to mirror neurons<\/a>. These are cells in the brain that fire when we observe someone else perform an action in the same way that they would fire if we performed that action ourselves.<\/p>\n

    Why we need\u00a0empathy?<\/h2>\n

    \"Empathy allows us to create bonds of trust, it gives us insights into what others may be feeling or thinking; it helps us understand how or why others are reacting to situations, it sharpens our \u2018people acumen\u2019 and it informs our decisions.\" - yourself series<\/span>
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Empathy is important because it helps us to understand another\u2019s feelings so we can respond appropriately. We can understand each other\u2019s experiences through empathy and as a result, are more likely to help each other.<\/p>\n

    The role of empathy in\u00a0design<\/h2>\n

    Seung Chan Lim (Slim) does a magical job of explaining how humility<\/strong>, courage<\/strong> and empathy<\/strong> help navigate the creative process. This 10 minute video is an inspiring watch.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019ve pulled out some key parts for you to consider:<\/p>\n

    Empathy need not be limited to\u00a0users<\/h3>\n

    It can apply to our work colleagues, clients, and suppliers. It can refer to the materials we design with and can even apply to ourselves.<\/p>\n

    At the heart of all creative processes is\u00a0empathy<\/h3>\n

    When we try to empathise with another instead of treating them as a problem to be solved, we listen to them.<\/p>\n

    Empathising helps you better understand yourself<\/h3>\n

    As you try to empathise with others. it helps you better understand yourself. Trying to write well for others helps you better know what you\u2019re thinking. Teaching someone something helps you better see what you\u2019re trying to explain.<\/p>\n

    Empathising is reciprocal<\/h3>\n

    Trying to empathise with another in the creative process is intrinsically reciprocal. Once you move past the idea of \u201cunderstanding\u201d as the only way to empathise with others, you\u2019ll notice that empathy is not merely about receiving, but also about giving. The act of giving is, in the end, the act of receiving. It\u2019s simply a loop that goes full circle.<\/p>\n

    Empathy with ourselves<\/h3>\n

    Seung Chan Lim concludes that:<\/p>\n

    \"One of the most beautiful things I\u2019ve learned while researching empathy is that as we realise empathy with \u201cothers,\u201d we become better at realising empathy with our \u201cselves.\u201d\"<\/span><\/p>\n

    10 ways to improve our\u00a0empathy<\/h2>\n

    Research shows that empathy is part natural and part learned. Here are ten ways you can strengthen and improve your empathy:<\/p>\n

    1. Use your heart, not just your\u00a0head.<\/h3>\n

    Read books and articles that look at emotions and relationships. In a study, this was shown to improve the empathy of new doctors.<\/p>\n

    2. Get feedback on your relationship skills.<\/h3>\n

    Find out from family and friends how your listening skills are.<\/p>\n

    3. Get\u00a0curious<\/h3>\n

    If you work on your curiosity and ask more questions, you\u2019ll gain a better understanding of what makes people tick.<\/p>\n

    4. Travel<\/h3>\n

    Change your environment. You get a much better understanding of others if you go to new places and see how people live differently.<\/p>\n

    5. Get out of your comfort\u00a0zone<\/h3>\n

    Study something new, start writing, reads new things, take an acting class. Getting out of your comfort zone and learning new things makes you humble. Humility is a an essential ingredient to empathy.<\/p>\n

    6.Judge less<\/h3>\n

    We all have judgments that stop us listening and empathising properly. Look at your biases around age, race, gender and sexual orientation. Be honest with yourself and work on these areas to improve your empathy. More often than not listening to another\u2019s story changes your bias towards them.<\/p>\n

    7. Spend time with caring\u00a0people<\/h3>\n

    The more time you spend with individuals with high amounts of empathy, the more you learn about being empathetic. In a sense, this rubs off on you.<\/p>\n

    8. Ask thoughtful questions<\/h3>\n

    When talking to clients or colleagues concentrate on asking more interesting questions. Get to the heart of what you want to know.<\/p>\n

    9. Do small acts of\u00a0kindness<\/h3>\n

    At a zebra crossing wave to say thank you to the vehicles that stopped. My kids always do this, and I\u2019ve learned from them to do the same. Hold the door open for someone. Say thank you when someone open\u2019s the door for you. The more of these little acts you do, the more conscious you\u2019ll become of your empathy.<\/p>\n

    10. Talk to\u00a0others<\/h3>\n

    Ask people about their lives and what their troubles. Hear what they have to say. The more you listen, the more you\u2019ll see that everyone has stuff going on. People have bad days; some are sick, some are having problems at home or work.<\/p>\n

    How to bring empathy into your design\u00a0work<\/h2>\n

    There are several ways we can bring more empathy into our work day.<\/p>\n

    Empathy for\u00a0users<\/h2>\n