Empati - redskap eller hinder : en kvalitativ studie om hur socionomer betraktar betydelsen av empati i sin professionella roll
(2019) SOPA63 20191School of Social Work
- Abstract
- Empathy is a phenomenon known by many definitions in the positive sense. The concept is mentioned as one of the three most important components within social work. At the same time, the concept of empathy is elusive and oftentimes difficult to pinpoint in the everyday social work practice. The aim of this study is to explore how social workers who work directly with vulnerable groups define and reason around the role of empathy in their profession and daily work. The data was accumulated through qualitative interviews with five different social workers who work with vulnerable groups, such as homeless people and children. The analysis of data is guided by concepts from the sociology of emotions, such as Arlie Hochschild’s theory of... (More)
- Empathy is a phenomenon known by many definitions in the positive sense. The concept is mentioned as one of the three most important components within social work. At the same time, the concept of empathy is elusive and oftentimes difficult to pinpoint in the everyday social work practice. The aim of this study is to explore how social workers who work directly with vulnerable groups define and reason around the role of empathy in their profession and daily work. The data was accumulated through qualitative interviews with five different social workers who work with vulnerable groups, such as homeless people and children. The analysis of data is guided by concepts from the sociology of emotions, such as Arlie Hochschild’s theory of emotional work and deep acting. This study found that the diffuse definition of empathy is based in two different kinds of the concept; there is a private empathy that allows the individual to use emotions more, and a professional one where “correct” empathy means to contain and regulate your emotions. The idea of being professional is often presented as being rational, controlled and sensible, which in the modern emotional culture you’re not when showing emotions. By following the instructions that come with professional empathy, the individual receives confirmation, fellowship and appreciation. The power of the community controls the individual through education and is constantly present in the professional carrier. At the same time there is a discrepancy in how the social workers are negatively affected by either regulate empathy or feeling too much in their work. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8982012
- author
- Lennde, Maria LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SOPA63 20191
- year
- 2019
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- empathy, regulation, professionalism, social worker, sociology of emotions
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 8982012
- date added to LUP
- 2019-06-14 11:44:46
- date last changed
- 2019-06-14 11:49:11
@misc{8982012,
abstract = {{Empathy is a phenomenon known by many definitions in the positive sense. The concept is mentioned as one of the three most important components within social work. At the same time, the concept of empathy is elusive and oftentimes difficult to pinpoint in the everyday social work practice. The aim of this study is to explore how social workers who work directly with vulnerable groups define and reason around the role of empathy in their profession and daily work. The data was accumulated through qualitative interviews with five different social workers who work with vulnerable groups, such as homeless people and children. The analysis of data is guided by concepts from the sociology of emotions, such as Arlie Hochschild’s theory of emotional work and deep acting. This study found that the diffuse definition of empathy is based in two different kinds of the concept; there is a private empathy that allows the individual to use emotions more, and a professional one where “correct” empathy means to contain and regulate your emotions. The idea of being professional is often presented as being rational, controlled and sensible, which in the modern emotional culture you’re not when showing emotions. By following the instructions that come with professional empathy, the individual receives confirmation, fellowship and appreciation. The power of the community controls the individual through education and is constantly present in the professional carrier. At the same time there is a discrepancy in how the social workers are negatively affected by either regulate empathy or feeling too much in their work.}},
author = {{Lennde, Maria}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Empati - redskap eller hinder : en kvalitativ studie om hur socionomer betraktar betydelsen av empati i sin professionella roll}},
year = {{2019}},
}