Unconditional giving and unconditional taking: empathy and narcissism among pastors.
Empathy is a key factor in successful pastoral contact. This article reports on an investigation among pastors of the relationship between empathy and narcissism, a personality trait which has acquired considerable importance in recent years. The article distinguishes between several dimensions of empathy and narcissism. In the case of empathy these dimensions are perspective-taking, fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress, and in the case of narcissism they are centripetal narcissism, centrifugal narcissism, isolation, and self-satisfaction. The meaning of the relationship between empathy and narcissism for pastoral performance is discussed.
Zondag
Hessel J
HJ
Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, PO. Box 9130, 5000 HC Tilburg, Netherlands.
D002977:Clergy / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D009289:Narcissism; D009426:Netherlands; D010327:Pastoral Care