ABSTRACT
Before looking into the teacher-student relationship, it is useful to consider findings from the study of interpersonal relationships in general. In particular, one key phenomenon studied has been the empathy gap. An empathy gap occurs when people are relatively unable to put themselves in the place of another person. When warm and secure, it is difficult to conceive of another person’s pain and insecurities. If you have never been bullied, it is hard to imagine the pain. People who have been bullied, or socially rejected, rate these experiences as severely painful. Others, who have not had such experiences, underestimate the level of hurt. It is not easy to empathise with someone whose shoes you have never walked in.
