The Natural Roots of Empathy
Sessions: 4
Lecture: 5h 10m
Certificate: 8+ hrs
100 CAD
Although empathy is universally valued, there is tremendous controversy regarding how to foster it, much of it rooted in a lack of understanding about where it comes from. This course reveals the natural developmental roots of empathy in a way that can easily be put into practice by parents and teachers alike.
As is the case with all our courses, this course features lectures by Dr. Neufeld, carefully curated support for enriched study, study aides, the opportunity to ask questions of trained faculty or course facilitators, a year's access to the campus to enable study at one's own pace, and a certificate of attendance upon completion. For more information, consult the 'about our courses' page.
COURSE SUMMARY
In this course, Neufeld reveals why empathy is NOT an attribute that can be taught, a value that can be inculcated, or a skill that can be trained. In fact, rewarding children for being nice only serves to cultivate selfishness and narcissism. Dr. Neufeld traces empathy to its natural roots in attachment, feelings and development. After years of putting the pieces of the empathy puzzle together, he presents his two-factor model for the development of empathy. Our challenge as adults is to support the natural antecedents of empathy and cultivate the conditions that forward spontaneous development in children. This two-factor model has clear implications for any venue – school, home or treatment – and can be implemented to support development or used remedially where empathy is lacking.
SUITABILITY/APPLICABILITY
While highly relevant to any parent, this course is also designed to be applicable to educators and helping professionals.
SAMPLE TOPICS
- why today's children are losing their empathy and how this can be reversed
- how a true developmental approach to empathy differs from the typical skill-based, learning-based and moral-education-based approaches
- the role that inner conflict serves in developing the capacity for empathy
- how to know when a child is developmentally ready for becoming more sensitive to the needs of others
- what premature socialization is and why it can harm development
- six powerful interventions that address the natural roots of empathy
- the role of prefrontal cortex development in the formation of empathy
- the role of stress in sabotaging the developmental antecedents of empathy and how to reverse this
- the role of emotional playgrounds in the development or recovery of empathy
- how empathy is the 'canary in the coal mine' for many other troubling problems in children
COURSE OUTLINE
The course is structured into 4 sessions with each session including approximately one hour and 20 minutes of instructional video from Dr. Neufeld. Included in the supplemental support is a curated Q&A session with Dr. Neufeld.
- Session 1 – Neufeld's Two-Factor Model for the development of empathy
When caring is restored as the heart of empathy, existing knowledge from the fields of attachment, development and emotion can be applied. The two-factor model provides insight as to what is happening in our society in general as well as to what is going on with any particular child or youth. - Session 2 – The Attachment Factor in Empathy
Empathy's deepest roots are meant to be in the attachment dynamic. In fact, attachment has always been the natural delivery system for care. The deepest and most powerful interventions in the development of empathy involve cultivating the right relationships to optimize caring and empathy. - Session 3 – The Feeling Factor in Empathy
Feeling plays a pivotal role in the development of empathy, especially feelings of attachment and caring. The problem with feelings is their fleeting nature, their fragility and their vulnerability. Fresh insights from some leading neuroscientists have profound implications on how we approach the development of empathy in children. - Session 4 – Towards Empathy: practices for intervention and remediation
Natural interventions are presented that are deep and powerful, yet not intrusive, nor requiring specialized training. These interventions can be implemented individually or in a family, program, classroom or school.
Inquiries
If you have questions or require additional information that you cannot find on our website or FAQ page, you may contact our office on our Inquiries page.
Charity & Non-Profit Status
The Neufeld Institute is a registered Canadian charitable organization under the name Neufeld Institute Foundation and is also registered as a NPO in British Columbia. If you would like to make a contribution to us, please go to our donation page.
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