Developing Empathy Through Improv

Recently, I read a professor's lament that students don't want to read books anymore. Attention spans have shrunk to the length of a TikTok video, and many struggle to concentrate on longer works of fiction that have been considered essential college reading. As someone with a stack of half-read books on my nightstand, I realized I too have been spending more time scrolling on my phone than being transported to another world through the magic of a story. The professor cited Pulitzer Prize-winning Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver as one of the works their students struggle to finish. So, I set a goal for myself to read it all the way through. The paperback is 546 pages, and I'm three-quarters of the way there.

The Impact of Short Attention Spans

Short attention spans for longer works of fiction can have negative effects. One significant consequence is that they limit our empathy. Reading about different beings in various circumstances, with unique experiences and worldviews, is essential for developing and retaining the ability to step into someone else's shoes. For instance, a European study noted that children and adolescents who engage with fictional narratives exhibit stronger empathy—measured as both perspective-taking and empathic concern—than peers with less exposure to fiction. See this study.

Understanding Through Fiction

Unlike Demon, I never worked on a tobacco farm when I was growing up. I wasn't shuttled from one bad foster home to another, and I didn't get addicted to legal painkillers after a school sports injury. However, reading his first-person experience gives me insight into his early life journey. It provides an imperfect understanding of how he came to be himself. Indeed, it helps me grasp how hardscrabble existence can be for someone in Appalachia who wasn't born into money and a stable family. Understanding is the foundation of empathy.

The Role of Improvisation in Building Empathy

Similar to reading fictional stories, improvisation can also increase empathy. When we step into a scene as a new character and react to our scene partner from that character's point of view, we move beyond ourselves and into the mind of another.

Research has shown that improv can enhance adults’ ability to take others’ perspectives, recognize emotions, and respond with empathic concern. In a controlled trial, a single improv session produced substantial immediate increases in healthcare students’ empathy. You can read more about it here. Additionally, a pilot course using applied improv techniques among nurses, doctors, and allied health learners reported notable improvements in inter-professional empathy. More details can be found here.

Empathy in the Medical Field

Building empathy is a key skill for those in the medical field and anyone whose work brings them into contact with clients or customers. The Agile Mind can facilitate improvisational activities designed to foster the development of understanding, emotional intelligence, and empathic skills.

Conclusion

The importance of reading and improvisation cannot be overstated. Both activities serve as vital tools for enhancing empathy. In a world where attention spans are dwindling, we must strive to engage with longer narratives and embrace the art of improvisation. By doing so, we not only enrich our own lives but also cultivate a deeper understanding of others. This understanding is crucial in fostering a more empathetic society.

The journey through a book like Demon Copperhead is not just about reading; it's about connecting with the human experience. Let's make an effort to engage in activities that enhance our empathy. After all, understanding one another is the first step toward creating a compassionate world.

Written by a human, optimized by AI.