Massimiliano Aragona

 

In the first part the human development at several levels of mutual understanding during growth are described, ending in what we commonly call empathy (intended as putting oneself in the other’s shoes). In the second part it is shown that empathy in general, and therapeutic empathy in particular, are not just emotional intuitions but they are parts of a more complex hermeneutic process involving both affective and cognitive processes.
Finally, therapeutic empathy is described as a complex phenomenon in which several interacting parts can be and should be differentiated. It is stressed that in the technical use of empathy we must be aware of its parts and of how they interplay.

 

empathy, hermeneutics, phenomenology, psychopathology

 

 

Received on December 04, 2019

Accepted on December 18, 2019

Firstly published online on December 30, 201