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Elizabeth A. Segal, Ph.D.

About

Elizabeth A. Segal, Ph.D., is a social policy analyst with a background in professional social work and a professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. Her current research is on social empathy—the application of empathic insights to enhance better understanding between people and different groups, and as a result promote social policies and programs that reflect empathy and social justice. She has worked on creating a compendium of methods to teach social empathy and an instrument to measure people’s inclination towards social empathy, the Social Empathy Index. The SEI provides an instrument to gauge the effectiveness of teaching methods and interventions that improve people’s interpersonal and social empathic abilities. The SEI is available in the book Assessing Empathy, and a full discussion of social empathy can be found in the book Social Empathy: The Art of Understanding Others.

Books by Elizabeth A. Segal, Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Are We Still Empathic if We Don't Take Action?

Empathy is an emotional process that can lead us to respond, but do not confuse the two. Empathy is the pathway, not the action.

Empathy is an emotional process that can lead us to respond, but do not confuse the two. Empathy is the pathway, not the action.

What if We Ban Books that Can Teach Us Empathy?

Are we banning books that help us experience challenging situations and share feelings of those different from us? If so, we risk closing ourselves off to empathy.

Are we banning books that help us experience challenging situations and share feelings of those different from us? If so, we risk closing ourselves off to empathy.

Honoring the Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

How can we honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the anniversary of his birth? By following his example and engaging empathically with others, no matter who they are.

How can we honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the anniversary of his birth? By following his example and engaging empathically with others, no matter who they are.

A Curb-cut
We All Benefit When We Get from "Me" to "Us"

Does it feel like helping others leaves you out? Actually, when we do for others, we often benefit in larger ways that help us all.

Does it feel like helping others leaves you out? Actually, when we do for others, we often benefit in larger ways that help us all.

Metaverse Is the Wrong Solution to the Right Problem

Metaverse promises compelling ways to portray our homes, workplaces, even our looks remotely. However, more elaborate screen time is not the answer to building human connections.

Metaverse promises compelling ways to portray our homes, workplaces, even our looks remotely. However, more elaborate screen time is not the answer to building human connections.

Empathy Can Help Us Overcome Fear of Others

When we fear others because they are not like us, it taps into our built-in fear of the unknown. Empathy can help us learn about others and lose that fear.

When we fear others because they are not like us, it taps into our built-in fear of the unknown. Empathy can help us learn about others and lose that fear.

Social Empathy in Action

Can social empathy make a difference? Yes, and we saw that in action over the last couple of weeks.

Can social empathy make a difference? Yes, and we saw that in action over the last couple of weeks.

Is There Such a Thing as Self-Empathy?

Self-exploration and introspection are valuable for our well-being, but they are not a form of empathy. Empathy involves stepping outside ourselves to better understand others.

Self-exploration and introspection are valuable for our well-being, but they are not a form of empathy. Empathy involves stepping outside ourselves to better understand others.

Cancel Culture and Empathy: Can They Coexist?

Can we "cancel" others and still hear them? Only if we engage empathically. Then we can make informed decisions about whether to prohibit or allow public voice and space for all.

Can we "cancel" others and still hear them? Only if we engage empathically. Then we can make informed decisions about whether to prohibit or allow public voice and space for all.