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Empati inom socialt arbete En kvalitativ intervjustudie om hur socialarbetare beskriver, använder och utmanas av empati

Persson, Magnus LU (2025) SOPA63 20241
School of Social Work
Abstract
Empathy is a known word used in many private and professional contexts. People can relate to it, but the definition is elusive. It is also elusive in science, with different definitions depending on which
scientific approach is taken. Also, within the field of social work, empathy is conceptualized and understood differently. Therefore, this study aims to explore how social workers describe and
utilize empathy in their client-centered work. It also investigates the challenges of using empathy as a professional tool. Research was conducted through four qualitative interviews with professional
social workers working in Social Services, Skåne county, Sweden. The respondents reported empathy both as a way of understanding the client, which... (More)
Empathy is a known word used in many private and professional contexts. People can relate to it, but the definition is elusive. It is also elusive in science, with different definitions depending on which
scientific approach is taken. Also, within the field of social work, empathy is conceptualized and understood differently. Therefore, this study aims to explore how social workers describe and
utilize empathy in their client-centered work. It also investigates the challenges of using empathy as a professional tool. Research was conducted through four qualitative interviews with professional
social workers working in Social Services, Skåne county, Sweden. The respondents reported empathy both as a way of understanding the client, which they accumulated through cognitive, affective, and
compassionate means. The reported purpose of this understanding was to use empathy to create a better relationship with the client, which in turn resulted in the information being more fleshed out, leading
to more individualized interventions. The respondents also reported challenges with the use of empathy, resulting in them not being able to regulate their emotions or differentiate from the client. This could
lead them to be too distant or too close to the client, with compassionate fatigue, secondary trauma, and burnout as consequences. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Persson, Magnus LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOPA63 20241
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
empathy, cognitive, affective, compassion, regulation, challenges, listening, confirming
language
Swedish
additional info
Skriver i alla fält för att det inte fungerar
id
9198269
date added to LUP
2025-06-16 11:15:24
date last changed
2025-06-16 11:15:24
@misc{9198269,
  abstract     = {{Empathy is a known word used in many private and professional contexts. People can relate to it, but the definition is elusive. It is also elusive in science, with different definitions depending on which
scientific approach is taken. Also, within the field of social work, empathy is conceptualized and understood differently. Therefore, this study aims to explore how social workers describe and
utilize empathy in their client-centered work. It also investigates the challenges of using empathy as a professional tool. Research was conducted through four qualitative interviews with professional
social workers working in Social Services, Skåne county, Sweden. The respondents reported empathy both as a way of understanding the client, which they accumulated through cognitive, affective, and
compassionate means. The reported purpose of this understanding was to use empathy to create a better relationship with the client, which in turn resulted in the information being more fleshed out, leading
to more individualized interventions. The respondents also reported challenges with the use of empathy, resulting in them not being able to regulate their emotions or differentiate from the client. This could
lead them to be too distant or too close to the client, with compassionate fatigue, secondary trauma, and burnout as consequences.}},
  author       = {{Persson, Magnus}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Empati inom socialt arbete En kvalitativ intervjustudie om hur socialarbetare beskriver, använder och utmanas av empati}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}