Advancing the Sociology of Empathy: A Proposal

• In Event: 123 - Section on Social Psychology Refereed Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions and Section on Sociology of Mental Health).
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 03. Emotions/Emotion Management

Abstract

In this paper I argue sociology needs to advance the sociology of empathy. With this purpose in mind I offer an interpretive preliminary framework. In the first part of this paper, I review classical and contemporary contributions to the theory of empathy. In the second part of the paper, I propose a framework based on interactionist insights. The framework is composed of three interrelated dimensions: empathy frames and rules; empathy performances; and empathy paths. This set of concepts will shed light on the social processes of empathy, and help sociologists to analyze the factors that explain people’s commitment to empathy in everyday life.

Author

• Natalia Ruiz-Junco