project empathy

empathy epidemic

40 % drop in empathy

social media

How do we teach empathy?

acting

music

dance

the arts teach empathy

codifying empathy?

Project Empathy:
concrete strategies, methods, tools for teaching soft skills

Project Empathy

• Mindfulness
• De-centering
• Active Listening

Short Term Goals

• Test empathy strategies for efficacy
• Apply strategies to larger university community

Methodology

• 4 x 4 field experiment
• Testing 3 exercises that evoke empathy

Untitled Slide

Long Term Goals

• Publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals
• Creating a syllabus for teacher training.
• A guidebook for the public.

Funding

• 5 CoFac Faculty + 1 Psychology Statistian with 1 course release: $65,000
• 1 Graduate Student @ 25%: $6, 000
• Fringe Benefits: $20,000
• Materials and Supplies: $4,000
• Human Subject Payments: $5,000
• Total: $100,000

Possible Funding Sources

• Texas State University Research Enhancement Program
• Dr. Scholl Foundation
• NEA Arts-Creativity Connect Grant
• possible sources in NIH

final thoughts