We all know or can intuit the meaning of the word “empathy,” which can be defined as “the ability to put oneself in another person’s situation or, more precisely, to immediately understand the other’s psychological processes.”
In other words, it means being able to “feel” the emotions that another person is experiencing at a given moment.
Although this is a characteristic that develops in different forms and intensities over time, in the first years spent at school one is rarely aware of one's own emotions and how they can be codified and critically defined.
A curiosity that could serve as an example for the Italian school system is that in Denmark empathy has been a compulsory subject since 1993.
One hour a week is dedicated to learning it in the “Klassens tid” for students aged 6 to 16.
What can teaching empathy do for? First of all, its awareness helps build relationships and provides valid tools to recognize and prevent widespread phenomena among young people such as bullying.
During the “Klassens tid” students can share their problems related to school and especially to different contexts such as the family. The class, with the help of the teacher, can try to put themselves in the situation of their classmate, in an attempt to find a solution based on listening and understanding.
Alternatively, you can dedicate part of the lesson to individual students' discussion about “Hygge”, which can be understood as “bringing light, warmth and friendship, creating a shared, welcoming and intimate atmosphere”.
This concept is fundamental and widespread in Danish culture and is based on the sense of well-being generally understood as an essential element for a life oriented towards happiness.
Is this perhaps the secret ingredient that has brought Denmark, according to valid surveys, to the podium of the happiest countries in the world? Going to school of empathy is perhaps the first step to take to prepare future generations to become happy and aware adults, respectful of those they will meet along their path and able to give the right importance to fundamental values such as social equality and community spirit.
Marcus Barbatus
EDITORIAL TEAM
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