Ecological empathy
Interest in the wellbeing of animals and nature / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ecological empathy, or eco-empathy, is empathy directed towards the natural world. It encompasses empathy directed towards animals,[1] plants, ecosystems, and the earth as a whole.[2]
Kim-Pong Tam developed a method of measuring individuals' dispositional empathy with nature (DEN), and has demonstrated its robust connection to conservation behavior.[3]
Numerous strategies can be implemented to cultivate ecological empathy—in both children and adults—including environmental education,[4] ecopedagogy,[5] arts,[6] literature,[7] film,[8] future scenarios,[9] ecological storytelling,[10] Indigenous approaches,[11] and parenting practices.[12]
Empathy for animals is a central component of eco-empathy,[13] and effective programs have been developed to promote empathy towards animals in the home,[14] in zoos[15] and aquariums,[16] on the farm,[17] and in the wild.[18]