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Empathy, sympathy, and altruism-An evident triad based on compassion. A theoretical model for caring
1Department of Neurobiology Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
Background:
Based on existing confusion and a suggested contradiction regarding empathy and compassion in relation to caring science as well as in clinical health care.
Aim:
The aim of the study was to find a knowledge base for the development of clinical caring science for, empathy, sympathy altruism, and compassion and their mutual relationship.
Design:
A theoretical paper.
Results:
The text discusses the different concepts separately, considering their history, research, obstacles, and bias and then brings them together in a concept model. The conclusion shows that empathy, sympathy, and altruism have no contradictions. Instead, they together form an evident triad based on compassion. Compassion is a prerequisite and a basis for the others to work. In clinical application, empathy is metaphorically a quality coming from the head, sympathy from the heart and altruism from the hand, merged in an attitude of compassion as a motif to care. The paper also reflects on the possibilities to increase and develop a compassionate mood and capacity by education and training.
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