'No quick fix': improving empathy requires prolonged and intense therapy, experts say

Adults can enhance their empathy but successful patients need ‘a certain base level’ to begin with, according to psychologists•Former branch secretary surprised Laming revelations ‘didn’t happen sooner’Experts have warned “there is no quick fix” for improving empathy, as besieged Coalition MP Andrew Laming takes leave to undertake an empathy training course the government has ordered him to complete.Psychologists from Monash University and the University of Western Australia have said that any meaningful behavioural change requires prolonged and “intense” therapy with a specially trained psychologist. “You can’t just walk into a workshop and come out with empathy” following a six-week course, they said, although this is the length Laming has suggested he hopes his will take.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Coalition Psychology Australia news Australian politics Source Type: news