ABSTRACT
This chapter explores empathy in relation to various broader social ideals and beliefs. It examines the effect of those ideals on day to day life and on therapeutic relationships. Ideology is a touchy subject, as it often inflames passions about various political and religious points of view. Self-transcendence is encouraged in different ways, but often begins with reassuring the believer of safety. Spiritual approaches that help people cope with stress in calm ways that preserve empathy have been further described by Pargament. Another aspect of self-transcendence emphasized by many traditions is an appreciation of the limits of human power and human understanding. Tribalism occurs when people sacrifice their intellectual freedom for the sake of belonging to a particular social group. Individualism, on the surface, appears to be the opposite of tribalism. Despite its obvious benefits, individualism can impair empathy when taken to the extreme.
