How to develop empathy in adolescents with behavioural problems?

Abstract

Ability to communicate and well-developed empathy are necessary for professional self-determination, confident behavior in various situational roles and building interpersonal relationships. The bond between empathy among adolescents with deviant behavior and the level of the development of their communication skills has been investigated. The test of V.F.Roschakhovsky and the test of I.M.Yusupov and also the method of determining the level of empathy of A.Megrabian and N.Epsteinin, Y.A.Mendzheritskaya adaptation ("the scale of emotional response") were applied. It appeared that the bond between empathy and the level of the development of communicative abilities among these adolescents is in linear (straight line) dependence. Teenagers with the developed ability to empathy, can reach understanding in communication more quickly, and thus adapt in the society more harmoniously.