Abstract

This article presents a theory of empathy discovered through rational hermeneutic interpretation within King’s per-sonal system. Personal system concepts from King’s general systems framework include perception, self, growth and development, body image, space, time, and learning. Propositions for each concept in the personal system were explicated and a theory of nursing empathy was developed. This nursing theory proposes that empathy organizes perceptions; facilitates awareness of self and others; increases sensitivity; promotes shared respect, mutual goals, and social awareness; cultivates understanding of individuals within a historical and social context; and affects learning. For many years, the application of borrowed theories of empathy to the nurse-patient relationship has been questioned by nurse educators and re-searchers (Bennett, 1995). In fact, over 15 years ago, Gagan (1983) challenged the nursing community to examine the nature and characteristics of empathy within the confines of the nurse-client relationship. Since that time, some re-searchers have conceptualized empathy within nursing frameworks (Alligood, 1991; Alligood nee Raile, 1983; Carmon, 1992; Wheeler, 1988), but empathy has been studied by these researchers as an interpersonal phenomenon. Whereas Katz (1963) proposed that empathy involved intrapsychic steps, the nature of intrapersonal empathy has not been re-ported in nursing studies. Furthermore, the recognition and support of two types