Empathy lessons show a positive impact on children and their behaviour

A study conducted in partnership with UK-based Empathy Studios, and Cambridge University’s Faculty of Education, has found that children who engage in an in-school video course display greater empathy and improved behaviour over a 10 week period. 900 children aged 5 – 18 from 10 schools in 6 countries took part in the video course, as well as discussions that directly followed the videos. The ‘Empathy Programme’ is built around three main ideas: Empathy for Myself, Empathy for Others and Empathy in Action. Levels of empathy and behaviour were measured by the children’s teachers on a 10 point scale. Over the length of the course, empathy levels increased from 5.55 to 7, and behaviour from 6.52 to 7.89. Teachers saw an overall positive change in their pupils’ level of empathy and their interaction with those around them, creating a greater desire to ‘find out more about the world’. Dr Helen Demetriou, an Empathy Education Specialist explains that this kind of course “supports a more complete learning experience, developing social and emotional skills that we know contribute to improved behaviour and more engaged learning”.  More information can be found here.