Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Empathy

Empathy

Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.

Cognitive Development During Adolescence

Cognitive Development During Adolescence

During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...

Nonconscious Mimicry

Nonconscious Mimicry

Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.

Ethics in Research

Ethics in Research

Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.

Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch

Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch

The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...

Obedience

Obedience

According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Client-perpetrated aggression in veterinary practice: prevalence, psychological impact, and institutional response.

American journal of veterinary research·2026

Same author

Survey reveals psychological distress among veterinarians involved in large-scale animal depopulation events.

American journal of veterinary research·2026

Same author

Demographics and Perceptions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) Members.

Veterinary ophthalmology·2026

Same author

Navigating Loss in Animal-Assisted Services: Volunteer Experiences and Implications for Programs Following Therapy Dog Death or Retirement.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026

Same author

Perceived animal welfare and quality debriefing practices are linked to laboratory animal professionals' job fulfillment and burnout.

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2026

Same author

Integrating animal cruelty exposure into person-centered models of childhood adversity: latent classes and associations with depression, anxiety, and stress.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Published on: November 22, 2024

Changes in Affective and Cognitive Empathy among Veterinary Practitioners.

Regina M Schoenfeld-Tacher, Jane R Shaw, Beatrice Meyer-Parsons

Journal of Veterinary Medical Education

|February 17, 2017

Summary

Veterinary practitioners experience lower empathy with more experience, and new vets show higher personal distress. Resilience interventions are recommended to support veterinarian wellness.

Keywords:

Davis Interpersonal Reactivity Index cross-sectional empathy professional wellness veterinarians

More Related Videos

Assessment of Mouse Judgment Bias through an Olfactory Digging Task

Assessment of Mouse Judgment Bias through an Olfactory Digging Task

Published on: March 4, 2022

The Use of Traditional Fear Tests to Evaluate Different Emotional Circuits in Cattle

The Use of Traditional Fear Tests to Evaluate Different Emotional Circuits in Cattle

Published on: April 22, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Published on: November 22, 2024

Assessment of Mouse Judgment Bias through an Olfactory Digging Task

Assessment of Mouse Judgment Bias through an Olfactory Digging Task

Published on: March 4, 2022

The Use of Traditional Fear Tests to Evaluate Different Emotional Circuits in Cattle

The Use of Traditional Fear Tests to Evaluate Different Emotional Circuits in Cattle

Published on: April 22, 2020

Area of Science:

Veterinary Medicine
Psychology

Background:

Clinical empathy is crucial in healthcare, comprising affective, moral, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions.
Understanding empathy facets in veterinary professionals is vital for their well-being and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the affective and cognitive dimensions of empathy in veterinary practitioners.
To explore the relationship between clinical experience and empathy components in veterinarians.

Main Methods:

A cross-sectional study surveyed 434 practicing veterinarians.
The Davis Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was utilized to assess empathy facets.
IRI subscales measured perspective taking, fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress.

Main Results:

Veterinarians with extensive clinical experience reported lower fantasy scores.
Newer veterinarians exhibited higher personal distress scores compared to seasoned practitioners.
Veterinarians with over 26 years in practice reported the lowest personal distress.

Conclusions:

High personal distress in early veterinary careers poses a risk to professional wellness.
Implementing resilience-building interventions is crucial for supporting veterinary practitioners.
Addressing empathy and distress can improve veterinarian well-being and practice sustainability.