Empathy Map: Cultural Perspective

What participants gain

• Apply empathy mapping techniques to understand cultural perspectives.
• Identify the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals from a different culture.
• Recognize the impact of bias on individuals from different cultures.
• Develop strategies for promoting cultural understanding and empathy.

Materials needed

• Empathy map template (printed or digital)
• Pens
• Markers
• Sticky notes
• Research resources on different cultures
• Timer
• A3 paper

How to run Empathy Map: Cultural Perspective, step by step

1. Introduce the concept of empathy mapping and its relevance to understanding cultural perspectives (5 minutes).
2. Divide participants into small groups (4-5 people) (5 minutes).
3. Instruct each group to choose a specific cultural group to focus on (5 minutes).
4. Guide participants through the different sections of the empathy map, asking them to consider the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals from that culture (20 minutes).
5. Have each group share their empathy map with the larger group (5 minutes).
6. Facilitate a discussion to compare and contrast the different cultural perspectives (5 minutes).

Facilitator tips

• Encourage participants to choose a specific cultural group to focus on for the empathy map.
• Provide examples of questions to guide their thinking, such as 'What do they see?', 'What do they hear?', 'What do they think and feel?', and 'What do they say and do?'
• Remind participants to base their insights on research and not stereotypes.

Common challenges

• Participants may rely on stereotypes instead of research - Provide resources for researching different cultures.
• Participants may struggle to empathize with different perspectives - Encourage them to challenge their assumptions and consider alternative viewpoints.
• The discussion may become too general - Focus on specific scenarios or experiences to make the empathy map more concrete.

Running it virtually

Use a shared digital empathy map template on a platform like Miro or Mural. Assign breakout rooms for smaller group discussions and encourage participants to add their insights to the digital map.

Expected results

A completed empathy map for a specific cultural group, providing insights into their thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to bias. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals from different cultures.

Build a session around Empathy Map: Cultural Perspective

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