Abstract
Empathy is the accurate assessment of another's feelings of emotional state, and as such functions as a desired goal in physician/patient communication. Although virtually no argument exists in medical literature that accurate understanding of a patient's emotional state is a vital part of the physician's decision regarding treatment, little attention is given to providing doctors with guidelines for achieving an empathic awareness of the patient's feelings. This article will demonstrate the appropriateness of cathartic listening as a means for physicians to achieve patient empathy. Cathartic listening is an idea which stems from Steil's concept of communication which serves the purpose of helping another person release his/her feelings. Specifically, this article will first examine the importance of empathy in medical treatment. Then it will present cathartic listening as a means of achieving empathy, and finally the advantages gained by a physician who engages in cathartic listening will be delineated.
Journal Title
Iowa Journal of Speech Communication
Volume
14
Issue
1
First Page
7
Last Page
14
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
DeStephen, RoLayne
(1982)
"Cathartic Listening as a Means of Achieving Physician to Patient Empathy,"
Iowa Journal of Communication: Vol. 14:
No.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijc/vol14/iss1/5
Copyright
©1982 Iowa Communication Association
