Rehearsing empathy: exploring the role of poetry in supporting learning

Jack, Kirsten; Illingworth, Sam

Abstract

Empathy is an important aspect of therapeutic relationships in health and social care settings. Health educators can foster empathy development in learners through creative writing activities. Drawing on the humanities, specifically poetry, this paper offers strategies for educators to support empathy development in learners, with a focus on service user poetry and associated creative writing activities. We discuss how poetry can enable alternative perspectives about care to emerge thereby challenging previously held assumptions about mental and physical states. Using poetry can enable a rehearsal of empathy by bringing experiences to the learner in a safe and facilitated environment. Through creative writing activities, we believe that students can learn to better understand and empathise with others, as well as explore their own feelings and experiences related to caregiving, to support self-care.

Citation

Jack, K., & Illingworth, S. (2024). Rehearsing empathy: exploring the role of poetry in supporting learning. Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 16(3), 303-316. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2023.2256361

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 3, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 25, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 2, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 2, 2023
• Print ISSN: 1753-3015
• Electronic ISSN: 1753-3023
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 303-316
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2023.2256361
• Keywords: Poetry, empathy, self-care, healthcare
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3184045