Empathy
What is Empathy?
The skill of understanding and sharing the feelings of another person.
Putting yourself into the other persons shoes, etc.
What technique helps with slowing down?
Breathing, etc.
Pertaining to the I statement Formula, what is supposed to be written in the blank?
I feel ______
Your emotions. Reflective of yourself.
Why is perspective taking important to solving a conflict?
Because it allows us to understand eachother and hear the other side. It helps us move past the issue and come to an agreement.
What part of the brain are you using when you crash out?
Downstairs brain
True or False: You can solve a conflict even if you don't understand how the other person is feeling. Explain why it is true or false.
False because you need to understand their perspective and feelings to come to a resolution
What is the goal for using a regulation technique?
To calm down, to use our upstairs brain, etc.
True or False: An I-Statement attacks the other person and tells them they are wrong. Explain why it is true or false.
False, because an I statement talks about your own feelings and perspectives. It does not point the finger or attack.
True or false? Perspective taking can be done quickly and without any thinking. Explain your answer.
False, because you need to use your upstairs brain (thinking brain) to perspective take. It can take a while especially if you need to calm down.
This is the part of the brain that handles problem-solving, planning, and logic.
Upstairs brain
Name one thing you can look at—besides words—to tell what emotion a person is feeling.
Physical signs, warning signs, specific type of physical sign accepted
What are warning signs?
Physical signs/reactions that we are about to go into our downstairs brain, have a big emotion, etc. Specific physical sign accepted.
No, because an I statement takes a lot of thinking and reflecting. Ae can’t have empathy or solve conflicts when we are in our downstairs brain.
If you are able to understand and look at another person’s perspective, BUT they don‘t want to do the same for you, what are the next steps?
Take a break from each other, give it more time, try again when both sides are calm, etc.
When you use a Regulation Tool, where are you trying to do for Your brain?
Move to upstairs brain, prevent downstairs brain from taking over, calm down, slow down, etc.
Scenario: Your friend is excited about a new video game, but you think it looks boring. What would you do to show empathy?
Put your feelings aside, express interest, joy, etc. even though you are not super excited.
Scenario: You just found out your team lost the championship game. Name two regulation tools you could use before talking to your teammates.
Any type of regulation technique accepted.
Scenario: Your group member is late to every meeting. Write the complete I-Statement you would say to them.
I feel _____ when _____ because I need _____
I feel (emotion) when (action) because I need (to feel like we are a team, to feel respected, to get work done, etc)
NOT surface level like you to stop being late, I need you to be on time
Scenario: You and your partner both want to use the computer at the same time. Name one Win-Win solution.
One person uses the computer now, the other person later, etc.
Scenario: You see a classmate yelling. Explain what part of the brain they are using and how can you tell.
Downstairs brain because they raised their voice and are having a big emotion, don’t seem to care how they sound/look, etc.
Scenario: A new student is sitting alone at lunch. You use empathy to decide your action. What should you do?
Anything showing kindness, expressing care, etc.
Scenario: Your younger sibling is annoying you while you work. Why is it better to use a tool like "stepping away" instead of yelling at them?
Because we don’t want to escalate the situation, we don’t want to hurt their feelings, etc.
Scenario: You say, "You make me so mad when you boss everyone around!" Why is this not a good I-Statement?
Because it is blaming, pointing the finger, accusing them, escalating the issue, etc.
Scenario: After hearing your friend's side of an argument, you realize they are right. You did do something that hurt their feelings. What is the respectful thing to do next?
Apologize sincerely
When it comes to these skills that were taught (empathy, emotion regulation, conflict resolution) why does it feel weird to do at first? And how can you make them a habit?
Because we are not used to it, because the brain pathway is not as clear, because we haven’t don’t it enough times, because it takes time to build a habit, etc.
To build the habit we need to consciously put in the effort to do the action even though it doesnt feel natural at first.