Mentalization and Empathy Among Effective Australian Elementary School Teachers

• In Event: 14.044 - Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: 14.044-14 - Lives of Teachers: Cognitive and Affective Features

Abstract

To have “empathy” with another is to experience the psychological life of that person by projecting oneself into another to understand his/her thinking or feeling. The term has a history of ambiguity among philosophers, behavioural, social, and medical scholars; yet, teachers’ professional responsibility to be empathic is mandated in standards frameworks worldwide, including Australia. This research reports on: (i) developing a multidimensional operational definition, to guide observations of teachers’ interactions with students, and (ii) examining mentalization as a possible underpinning psychological mechanism of empathy. The study measures mentalization in elementary teachers identified by Principals as “effective” creators of positive classroom climates. A new teacher mentalization scale will be developed from identified significant factors.

Authors

• Paul Anthony Swan, Monash University

• Philip Riley, Australian Catholic University