Agenda
Jodie share research
Reminder, Oct Empathy Summit
I struggle with the workflow for documenting this. (Writing/Presentation) looking for a fun workflow. I enjoy the talking about it. Verbally discussing.
I will focus this week on Drama Triangle v Empathy Circle Presentation. Put together a video presentation.
What do you think of the terms: Empathy Movement” vs. “The Wholistic Empathy Movement.
Empathy Summit: Building the Wholistic Empathy Movement.
Jodie and Edwin like Wholistic Empathy Movement.
Promoting Wholistic Empathy definition model by Empathy Expert dialogues.
Interview with Kevin Waldman again next week.
Amber - empathy healthcare
Empathy Super Friends. Jodie to join.
Dr Claire Yorke - international politics and leadership
Anita Novak -
Simon-Baron Cohen -
Fritz Breithaupt https://cultureofempathy.com/References/Experts/Fritz-Breithaupt.htm
etc.
Drama Triangle.
Jodie - idea? Find a empathy criticism and come up with one Drama Triangle example a week?
Create Training to train Wholistic Empathy
Struggle with the workflow for documenting this.
what is a fun and energetic workflow.
2. The Empathy Movement” vs. “The Wholistic Empathy Movement.
want to create a empathy movement. I'd like to call it the Wholistic Empathy Movement to indicate it is about creating mutual empathy between people, it is about creating a culture of empathy. give me the pros and cons for calling the movement, the Empathy Movement or the Wholistic Empathy Movement.
ChatGPT said:
Got it — you're weighing “The Empathy Movement” vs. “The Wholistic Empathy Movement.” Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons for each name:
1. The Empathy Movement
✅ Pros
Clear & direct: Easy to understand, memorable, and straightforward.
Broad appeal: Doesn’t exclude anyone — anyone can see themselves in "empathy."
Searchability & recognition: “Empathy” is already a well-known concept; aligns with existing conversations in psychology, education, politics, etc.
Simplicity: Easier for branding, media mentions, and word-of-mouth.
Historic resonance: Could position the movement as the central hub for global empathy efforts.
❌ Cons
Generic: Might blend in with existing projects or organizations that use "empathy" in their name.
Ambiguity: Doesn’t clarify your unique angle (mutual, cultural, wholistic empathy).
Overuse risk: The term "empathy" is sometimes misused or diluted in popular discourse.
2. The Wholistic Empathy Movement
✅ Pros
Education: Helps promote the concept of wholistic empathy. People will ask what it is and we can educate them
Unique identity: Distinguishes your movement from others — stands out as fresh.
Depth conveyed: “Wholistic” signals that it’s not just about feeling empathy, but about building a culture of mutual, systemic empathy.
Broader frame: Suggests inclusivity of multiple dimensions — emotional, social, political, ecological, spiritual.
Appeals to depth-seekers: Resonates with audiences looking for something deeper than just “kindness” or “soft empathy.”
❌ Cons
Complexity: The word “wholistic” can feel academic, new agey, or jargon-y to some.
Spelling confusion: “Wholistic” vs. “holistic” — people may not know which is correct or may search the other spelling.
Less immediately clear: May require explanation (“What’s wholistic empathy?”) before people grasp it.
Potentially narrower reach: Could sound niche, appealing more to progressive or wellness-oriented circles than the general public.
Key Tradeoff
The Empathy Movement → broad, accessible, mass appeal, but risks being too generic.
The Wholistic Empathy Movement → distinctive, communicates your unique mission, but may sound niche or require explanation.
👉 One possible compromise:
Use “The Empathy Movement” as the public-facing, broad identity, and
Frame “Wholistic Empathy” as your core philosophy or framework within the movement (e.g., “The Empathy Movement: Building a Wholistic Culture of Mutual Empathy”).
That way you get both reach and distinctiveness.
https://otter.ai/u/tOUjY0s0Go-Wb2SOjzC-RHn8iR4?view=summary
Jodie Jenson and Edwin Rutsch discussed Jodie's research on synthesizing terminology from various disciplines to define empathy, focusing on perspective-taking and emotional connection. They explored the cognitive and affective models of empathy, emphasizing the importance of understanding core values and needs. They proposed a study comparing the empathy circle with regular conversations to measure empathy improvements. Edwin shared his struggles with writing and presented the idea of focusing on the "holistic empathy movement" to differentiate their work. They also discussed potential collaborations with empathy experts and the integration of AI in empathy research.
[ ] @Edwin Rutsch - Edwin to meet with the board to discuss focusing on the "holistic empathy movement".
[ ] @Edwin Rutsch - Edwin to continue reaching out to empathy experts like Kevin Waldman, Amber, and Claire York to promote the holistic empathy definition.
[ ] @Edwin Rutsch - Edwin and Jodie to consider creating an "Empathy Rapid Response" group to provide quick responses to criticisms of empathy.
[ ] Jodie to look into criticisms of empathy and how they fit into the Drama Triangle framework.
[ ] Jodie to connect with Darryl Cameron and David Wingate regarding empathic AI research.
[ ] Jodie to be added to the "Empathy Super Friends" group.
Edwin Rutsch and Jodie Jenson discuss the agenda, including Jodie's research on synthesizing terminology from different disciplines.
Jodie shares her screen to show her project on perspective-taking and the complexity of terminology in different disciplines.
Jodie explains her goal of publishing a journal article to help people communicate better about empathy concepts.
Jodie uses ChatGPT to organize terms visually, showing how different levels of cognition and emotional connection influence empathy.
Jodie describes her project's focus on understanding perspective and how different disciplines define it.
She discusses the overlap of terms from various disciplines, such as political science and sociology.
Jodie shares her visualization of terms, showing how surface-level cognition influences deeper emotional connections.
Edwin and Jodie discuss the cognitive and affective models of empathy, and how empathy changes at different levels of emotional connection.
Edwin shares his thoughts on common humanity and how it influences empathy.
Jodie and Edwin discuss the concept of sacred values and how they influence empathy.
Edwin introduces the feelings and needs model from nonviolent communication, emphasizing the importance of understanding core feelings and needs.
Jodie reflects on the biological needs that influence values and how they shape empathy.
Jodie proposes research on the empathy circle, comparing it to regular conversations to measure empathy improvements.
They discuss the potential benefits of involving university students and using AI to analyze transcripts.
Edwin shares his experience with a Microsoft developer interested in the empathy circle and the potential for AI tools to support empathy.
Jodie mentions her AI expert at BYU and the possibility of using AI for linguistic analysis in the research.
Jodie and Edwin discuss the challenges of conducting research on the empathy circle, including the need for a control group.
They consider different frameworks for the study, such as adding a group that focuses on asking follow-up questions.
Edwin shares his experience with a previous study on the empathy circle and the importance of having clear measures and deadlines.
Jodie and Edwin brainstorm ways to make the research process more enjoyable and efficient, including the idea of accountability partners.
Edwin discusses the need to focus the empathy center on the empathy movement and the holistic empathy definition model.
They consider the pros and cons of using the terms "empathy movement" versus "holistic empathy movement."
Jodie supports the idea of using "holistic empathy movement" to differentiate it from other definitions of empathy.
Edwin plans to discuss this with the empathy center board and gather feedback.
Edwin shares his plans to connect with empathy experts, including Kevin Waldman and Amber, to promote the holistic empathy definition model.
They discuss the potential for collaborating with the empathy Super Friends group and other experts in the field.
Edwin mentions the importance of addressing criticisms of empathy and using the Drama Triangle framework to do so.
Jodie and Edwin brainstorm ways to involve AI in their research and the potential for empathic AI to support the empathy circle.
Edwin reflects on the personal growth and enjoyment that come from engaging in empathy.
Jodie shares her experience with focusing and how it helps her stay at the edge of awareness.
They discuss the importance of understanding and connection in empathy, and how empathy can lead to personal growth and richer experiences.
Edwin and Jodie consider the potential for AI to support empathy by providing real-time feedback and reflection.
Jodie proposes measuring social cohesion and enjoyment in the empathy circle research.
They discuss the importance of equal time for participants to speak and the potential for AI to help facilitate this.
Edwin shares his experience with a Microsoft developer interested in the empathy circle and the potential for AI tools to support empathy.
Jodie mentions her AI expert at BYU and the possibility of using AI for linguistic analysis in the research.
Edwin shares his interest in the work of Tanya Singer and her research on dyadic dialog and empathy.
They discuss the potential for meditation and empathy to support personal growth and well-being.
Jodie and Edwin brainstorm ways to integrate meditation and empathy practices in their research and presentations.
They consider the importance of addressing criticisms of empathy and using the Drama Triangle framework to do so.
Jodie and Edwin discuss the importance of personal reflection and note-taking in empathy circles.
They consider the potential for AI to support personal reflection by providing real-time feedback and reflection.
Edwin shares his experience with a previous study on the empathy circle and the importance of having clear measures and deadlines.
Jodie and Edwin brainstorm ways to involve AI in their research and the potential for empathic AI to support the empathy circle.
Meeting assets for Edwin Rutsch's Personal Meeting Room are ready!
Hi Edwin Rutsch
Zoom Meeting summary
Jodie and Edwin discussed Jodie's research on synthesizing empathy terminology across disciplines, including her visualization of empathy concepts from surface-level cognition to core identity elements, and explored how empathy changes based on connection depth. They planned a collaborative research study to measure the effectiveness of Empathy Circles compared to regular conversations, with Edwin suggesting enhancements like including politically diverse participants and using AI tools to analyze linguistic patterns. The conversation concluded with Edwin sharing his work on refining a presentation about the drama triangle and empathy circle, proposing a "holistic empathy movement" rebranding, and discussing his connections with various empathy experts.
Jodie: Publish findings in a journal as a "one-stop shop" for understanding overlapping concepts related to empathy.
Edwin: Prepare for speaking at the October empathy summit.
Edwin: Meet with the board to discuss focusing on the "holistic empathy movement" concept.
Jodie: Continue research on synthesizing terminology related to empathy across different disciplines.
Jodie: Further investigate the relationship between depth of empathy and core values/beliefs.
Edwin: Focus on refining and recording the drama triangle and empathy circle presentation this week.
Jodie: Explore potential research study on Empathy Circle effectiveness compared to regular conversations.
Jodie: Meet with Greg on Thursday to discuss research collaboration possibilities.
Jodie: Talk to her mentor about conducting an empathy circle study with university students.
Edwin: Interview Kevin Waldman next week and introduce the holistic empathy framework and drama triangle concept.
Edwin: Interview Claire York about her upcoming book on empathy in international politics.
Edwin: Try to arrange a discussion with Simon Baron Cohen about his empathy research.
Jodie: Connect with her AI expert colleague at BYU about possible linguistic analysis of Empathy Circle transcripts.
Edwin: Explore potential software tools to facilitate and measure Empathy Circle interactions.
Jodie and Edwin: Consider designing a study with political diversity in Empathy Circle groups.
Jodie: Discuss potential Empathy Circle research study with her mentor to see if they have resources at BYU.
Jodie: Explore the possibility of conducting research at two different locations.
Jodie: Look into Tanya Singer's research on dyadic dialogue for insights on study design.
Jodie: Watch Edwin's video with Tanya Singer to learn more about her work.
Jodie and Edwin: Consider setting up accountability writing sessions together.
Edwin: Continue exploring ways to improve his writing workflow.
Jodie: Join the "empathy super friends" group after Edwin's email introduction.
Jodie: Read through the criticisms of empathy and fit them into the drama triangle framework.
Jodie: Add her thoughts about "holistic empathy movement" vs "empathy movement" on the website.
Edwin: Arrange an empathy circle with Fritz that Jodie can participate in.
Jodie: Talk to her mentor about potential dissertation topics related to their empathy work.
Jodie: Reach out to Darryl Cameron regarding empathic AI research.
Jodie: Connect with David Wingate about the technical aspects of empathic AI.
Jodie: Validate Chat GPT's theory about cognitive vs. affective empathy at different levels of personal connection.
Jodie: Look back through the AI transcript of the conversation to further analyze Edwin's insights on empathy.
Jodie shares her research on synthesizing terminology related to empathy across different disciplines, focusing on what "perspective" means. She presents a comprehensive table of overlapping terms from psychology, political science, philosophy, and sociology, which she plans to publish as a reference guide. Jodie also shows a visualization she created with Chat GPT's help that organizes these concepts in concentric circles, representing different levels of depth from surface-level cognition (opinions and attitudes) to core identity elements. She explains that the type of empathy changes depending on how deeply one connects with another person's perspective.
Jodie discusses a cognitive-affective model of empathy, suggesting that deeper connections to a person's core require more affective empathy as individuals are more emotionally connected to their core values. Edwin adds perspectives on common humanity and nonviolent communication, explaining how empathic reflections can identify deeper needs beneath surface feelings. Jodie shares her research interest in understanding how people can maintain their own convictions while deeply empathizing with others, questioning what level of conviction (opinions versus sacred values) she should focus on in her research design.
Edwin and Jodie discuss the concept of empathy, with Edwin describing it as a process of sensing into another person's experience, while understanding is something that naturally emerges from this process. Edwin explains the focusing technique where one stays at the edge of awareness to allow new feelings to emerge, comparing it to seeing a landscape where different elements fit together. They explore how the goals of empathy can include understanding, connection, personal growth, and helping others, with Edwin emphasizing that empathizing with others is inherently rewarding rather than sacrificial. Jodie notes that not everyone views empathy as personally rewarding, and they agree that humans have biological needs for connection and community.
Jodie proposes conducting research on the effectiveness of Empathy Circles by comparing them with regular conversations, measuring participants' empathy levels before and after the intervention. She suggests using university students as participants and collecting data on empathy improvement, speaking time distribution, and connection levels. Edwin supports the idea and mentions potential enhancements like including politically diverse participants and using AI tools to analyze linguistic patterns and provide real-time empathic response guidance. Jodie notes that while Empathy Circles appear effective, there are currently no published research papers on them, making this a valuable research opportunity that could be conducted with pre and post-intervention measures.
Jodie and Edwin discuss collaborating on a research study involving university students at two different locations, with Jodie planning to speak with a colleague in San Diego about potential involvement. They explore the differences between empathic listening and questioning in conversations, with Edwin explaining that empathic listening gives speakers more control over their own pathway while questioning guides the conversation. Edwin mentions Tania Singer's research on empathy and dyadic dialogue as potentially relevant to their work. They also share their struggles with academic writing, with both finding dialogue enjoyable but writing challenging, and discuss potential strategies like accountability partnerships and dedicated writing sessions.
Edwin discusses his focus on refining and recording a presentation on the drama triangle and empathy circle, which he sees as a good framework for addressing criticisms of empathy. Jodie agrees that this is Edwin's best work so far. Edwin proposes rebranding their efforts as the "holistic empathy movement" to differentiate it from other empathy approaches, and Jodie supports this idea. Edwin shares his ongoing work connecting with empathy experts including Kevin Waldman, Amber from a healthcare empathy department, the "empathy super friends" group, and Claire York who studies empathy in international politics. They also discuss creating an "empathy rapid response" team to address criticisms of empathy and explore potential connections with researchers working on empathic AI.