This is a book about empathy and communication. Empathy - the ability to recognize other people's feelings and intentions - is an innate ability. To communicate - to participate in dialogue, seek contact, and engage in interaction with others - is an innate need. There is strong evidence that the ability to empathize is partially linked to a specific type of nerve cells in the brain. These cells are called "mirror neurons". Neurobiological research shows that the mirror neuron system makes it possible for us to replicate and recognize other people's feelings and intentions. The cells also affect our capacity for self-reflection. The innate potential for empathy in a human being can be developed early in a human being through the caregiver's ability to communicate, build a relationship, and meet the child's inner need for contact. The book describes a special communication tool, empathic communication, built on the understanding of communication which is described above.
About the Author: Lisbeth F.K. Holter Brudal (born 19 September 1935) is a Norwegian psychologist living in Oslo, Norway. She is particularly known for her pioneer work in the areas of birth psychology and communication. Biography Lisbeth F.K. Holter Brudal is the granddaughter of Anathon August Fredrik Aall (1867 - 1943) who internationally was a well known philosopher and psychologist. Aall was one of the founders of Institute of Psychology in Oslo in 1909. Aall was professor and leader of Institute of Psychology for nearly 30 years. Lisbeth F.K. Holter Brudal graduated as a psychologist in 1964. She has a Doctor of Philosophy degree[1] from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo (PhD.), specialising in clinical psychology. She is married to psychologist Paul Jan Brudal, who is a specialist in clinical psychology and an author. They have two children and five grandchildren. Work For several years Brudal was a lecturer and assistant professor at the Institute of Psychology at the University of Oslo. In 1985 she founded the Institute of Tocology (the study of birth) and Family Psychology[2] which is a private institute, and she remained head of the institute until 2011. The institute has at times had four affiliated psychologists, focusing especially on the treatment of people in crisis. For many years the institute collaborated with the university's Institute of Psychology in the areas of guidance and teaching of students. Brudal is especially known for having developed a separate area within psychology: Birth Psychology. In the context of this pioneering work she has done research on men's psychological reactions associated with pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care.[3] She has taught for many years, held courses and supervised health workers in birth psychology and crisis intervention in Sweden. For this work Brudal now receives a pension from Sweden. Lisbeth F.K. Holter Brudal is also a pioneer in the field of communication, having developed a tool for communication - Empathic Communication (EC).[4] She has published a series of films about this tool and its usage.[5] Brudal is known for her versatile professional profile and has written 16 books and several articles on subjects such as birth psychology, psychological crises, psychopathy, dreams, consciousness, positive psychology and empathy. The books have been translated into several languages, including Russian.[6] She has also written a novel.[7]