Science of Emotion and Sensibility (감성과학)

Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility (한국감성과학회)
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Comparison of Empathy Ability between Counselors and the General Public

상담전문가와 일반인의 공감능력 비교

  • Received : 2024.05.14
  • Accepted : 2024.07.17
  • Published : 2024.12.31
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Abstract

This study aimed to compare the empathy between psychological counselors and the general public and to examine the emotional assessment consistency within each group as a crucial factor in psychotherapy. Previous research has identified two core affective dimensions of emotion: valence and arousal (Russell, 1980). This study employed simulated counseling videos as experimental stimuli to assess emotional responses of valence and arousal dimensions. Participants rated their emotions for nine adjectives using 7-point Likert scales. Multidimensional scaling and intersubject correlation were conducted. In response to the counseling video stimuli, multidimensional scaling analysis demonstrated that emotions in the valence dimension were similarly well represented for both the counselor and general public groups, while the counselor group exhibited heightened sensitivity in the arousal dimension. Moreover, results indicated similar emotional representation for both groups across the nine emotional assessment scales, with the counselor group showing increased arousal sensitivity. Intersubject correlation analysis revealed that the counselor group exhibited more consistent emotional responses compared to the general public group. In summary, this study found that counselors demonstrate a higher empathy level for the arousal dimension and higher consistency in emotional responses, highlighting the role of professional education and training in enhancing empathy.

본 연구는 심리치료의 핵심요인으로 알려진 공감능력에 대해 심리상담자와 일반인 그룹의 차이 및 각 그룹의 정서 평정 일관성을 비교하고자 하였다. 이전 연구에서 정서 차원은 정서가 차원(valence)과 각성가 차원(arousal)이라는 두 가지 핵심정서(core affect) 차원을 밝혔다(Russell, 1980). 본 연구에서는 정서가 차원과 각성가 차원에서의 정서 평정을 위해 가상의 상담 영상을 제작하여 실험자극으로 사용하였고, 각 자극마다 9개의 형용사에 대해 7점 리커트 척도로 정서 평정을 보고받았다. 자료수집 이후 다차원척도법과 참가자 간 상관분석을 실시하였다. 다차원척도법 결과, 상담 영상 자극에 대해 상담자와 일반인 두 그룹 모두 핵심정서차원인 정서가 차원에서 유사하게 잘 표상되었고, 각성가 차원에 있어 상담자 그룹이 더 민감한 것으로 나타났다. 9개의 정서 평정 스케일에 대해서도 역시 두 그룹 모두 정서가에 잘 표상되었으나, 상담자 그룹이 각성가에 더 민감한 것으로 나타났다. 참가자 간 상관분석 결과 대부분의 정서에 대해 상담자 집단이 일반인 집단에 비해 더 일관된 정서반응을 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 종합적으로 본 연구는 상담자가 일반인에 비해 각성가에 대한 더 높은 공감 수준을 가지며 상담자 간 일관성이 높다는 사실을 밝혔다. 이러한 결과는 전문적 교육과 훈련을 통해 공감 능력이 증진도리 수 있음을 시사한다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 한국연구재단 4단계 BK21 사업(전북대학교 심리학과)의 지원을 받아 수행된 연구임(No. 4199990714213).

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