Groundwork laid for developing the general ability of empathetic understanding

“Small changes are good. Don’t be too greedy, because small changes can lead to big changes. ” (Lab fellow F, focus group)

When the evaluation was conducted in June and July of 2019, there were massive protests in Hong Kong against the Extradition Bill that the Hong Kong Government tried to enact. Whilst the lab fellows expressed a sense of powerlessness in changing the political situation, many of them at the same time articulated their stronger determination to play a part in other small change-making moves, conceiving change-making as a mission and duty of their generation.

Groundwork laid for developing the general ability of empathetic understanding

The capacity to look beyond own perspective to understand other people’s views and feelings defines the general ability of empathetic understanding (Carré et al, 2013; Gerdes et al, 2011; Jolliffe & Farrington, 2006). ‡ The pre-post survey indicates that the lab participants perceived themselves to be more able to relate to other people’s happiness after participation in the Market Lab (Table 5, item 34); but there was limited change in their perceived ability to relate to other people’s worries, frustrations and anxiety (Table 5, item 32, 33, 35, 36). The survey also does not confirm significant change among the lab participants in their perceived ability to take the perspectives of other people who were different from themselves (Table 5, item 28, 29, 30, 31).

Table 5

No.

28 I can understand ot point of view. her people’s

29

30 If I have opinions different from someone, I can understand his/her point of view. If I am dissatisfied with someone, I can put myself into his/her shoes.

31 I believe when we are tackling social problems, we should understand different people’s point of view.

Rating increased

Rating decreased

No change Total Z p

4 4 11 19 -0.30 0.76

4 4 11 19 -0.29 0.77

7 2 10 19 -1.81 0.07

5 4 10 19 -0.58 0.56

32 I can relate to others’ worries. 2 5 12 19 -0.63 0.53 33 I can relate to othe helplessness. rs’ 4 2 13 19 -0.82 0.41 34 I can relate to others’ happiness. 8 1 10 19 -2.31 0.02 35 I can relate to others’ frustration. 3 3 13 19 -0.33 0.74

36 I can relate to others’ anxiety. 3 4 12 19 -0.38 0.71

‡ Carré, A. et al (2013). The Basic Empathy Scale in Adults (BES-A): Factor Structure of a Revised Form. Psychological Assessment 25(3), 679-691. Gerdes, K. E., Lietz, C. A., & Segal, E. A. (2011). Measuring empathy in the 21st century: Development of an empathy index rooted in social cognitive neuroscience and social justice. Social Work Research 35, 83–93. Jolliffe, D., & Farrington, D. P. (2006). Development and validation of the Basic Empathy Scale. Journal of Adolescence 29, 589–611.