Historiography of Empathy: Contributions to Social Work Research and Practice
Empathy has long been considered critical to good social work practice, and is supported by extensive research and literature. However, empathy is a contested concept with divergent theoretical origins that complicates its place in social work research and practice. This article provides a histori...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
SAGE
2021
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/84606 |
| _version_ | 1848764662421651456 |
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| author | Watson, Tracy Hodgson, David Watts, Lynelle Waters, Rebecca |
| author_facet | Watson, Tracy Hodgson, David Watts, Lynelle Waters, Rebecca |
| author_sort | Watson, Tracy |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Empathy has long been considered critical to good social work practice, and is supported by extensive research and literature. However, empathy is a contested concept
with divergent theoretical origins that complicates its place in social work research and
practice. This article provides a historical review of empathy, highlighting the evolution
of the concept of empathy, its contested history, and subsequent emergence into
therapeutic contexts, particularly within social work. Findings show that empathy has
multiple definitions and meanings, thus, creating a challenge to research efforts and
social work activities. This review lays the groundwork for further constructive debate
and research into the theory and practice of empathy for social work. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:22:55Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-84606 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:22:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | SAGE |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-846062021-08-19T01:33:24Z Historiography of Empathy: Contributions to Social Work Research and Practice Watson, Tracy Hodgson, David Watts, Lynelle Waters, Rebecca Empathy has long been considered critical to good social work practice, and is supported by extensive research and literature. However, empathy is a contested concept with divergent theoretical origins that complicates its place in social work research and practice. This article provides a historical review of empathy, highlighting the evolution of the concept of empathy, its contested history, and subsequent emergence into therapeutic contexts, particularly within social work. Findings show that empathy has multiple definitions and meanings, thus, creating a challenge to research efforts and social work activities. This review lays the groundwork for further constructive debate and research into the theory and practice of empathy for social work. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/84606 10.1177/14733250211033012 SAGE fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Watson, Tracy Hodgson, David Watts, Lynelle Waters, Rebecca Historiography of Empathy: Contributions to Social Work Research and Practice |
| title | Historiography of Empathy: Contributions to Social Work Research and Practice |
| title_full | Historiography of Empathy: Contributions to Social Work Research and Practice |
| title_fullStr | Historiography of Empathy: Contributions to Social Work Research and Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Historiography of Empathy: Contributions to Social Work Research and Practice |
| title_short | Historiography of Empathy: Contributions to Social Work Research and Practice |
| title_sort | historiography of empathy: contributions to social work research and practice |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/84606 |