Conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics faculty

Faculty members play a crucial role as change agents in promoting cultural transformation within academic environments and empathy, a fundamental component of effective teaching, mentoring, and collegiality, is essential for fostering a student-centered and holistic approach. We present a theoretica...

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Main Authors: Alia Hamdan, Ash Bista, Scott Franklin, Dina Newman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2024-12-01
Series:Physical Review Physics Education Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.020148
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author Alia Hamdan
Ash Bista
Scott Franklin
Dina Newman
author_facet Alia Hamdan
Ash Bista
Scott Franklin
Dina Newman
author_sort Alia Hamdan
collection DOAJ
description Faculty members play a crucial role as change agents in promoting cultural transformation within academic environments and empathy, a fundamental component of effective teaching, mentoring, and collegiality, is essential for fostering a student-centered and holistic approach. We present a theoretical model for empathy development and navigation in physics faculty as they engage with students and colleagues. Two pathways—cognitive and affective—are connected with previous work and explored. Cognitive empathy, a slower, intellectual process, is mediated through reflective witnessing, whereas affective empathy, a faster, emotional process, builds on shared or adjacent lived experiences. Understanding the nuances associated with the different pathways can inform efforts to increase participation and foster an inclusive environment, which often presumes a meaningful understanding of what best supports individual students.
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publisher American Physical Society
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series Physical Review Physics Education Research
spelling doaj-art-9548a6ebd72c421e87ded2debc2f41382024-12-02T15:39:50ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Physics Education Research2469-98962024-12-0120202014810.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.020148Conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics facultyAlia HamdanAsh BistaScott FranklinDina NewmanFaculty members play a crucial role as change agents in promoting cultural transformation within academic environments and empathy, a fundamental component of effective teaching, mentoring, and collegiality, is essential for fostering a student-centered and holistic approach. We present a theoretical model for empathy development and navigation in physics faculty as they engage with students and colleagues. Two pathways—cognitive and affective—are connected with previous work and explored. Cognitive empathy, a slower, intellectual process, is mediated through reflective witnessing, whereas affective empathy, a faster, emotional process, builds on shared or adjacent lived experiences. Understanding the nuances associated with the different pathways can inform efforts to increase participation and foster an inclusive environment, which often presumes a meaningful understanding of what best supports individual students.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.020148
spellingShingle Alia Hamdan
Ash Bista
Scott Franklin
Dina Newman
Conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics faculty
Physical Review Physics Education Research
title Conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics faculty
title_full Conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics faculty
title_fullStr Conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics faculty
title_full_unstemmed Conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics faculty
title_short Conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics faculty
title_sort conceptual framework for understanding empathy in physics faculty
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.020148
work_keys_str_mv AT aliahamdan conceptualframeworkforunderstandingempathyinphysicsfaculty
AT ashbista conceptualframeworkforunderstandingempathyinphysicsfaculty
AT scottfranklin conceptualframeworkforunderstandingempathyinphysicsfaculty
AT dinanewman conceptualframeworkforunderstandingempathyinphysicsfaculty