The Science of Empathy: Dr. Helen Riess on How We Teach It and How Misuse Turns Into Gaslighting

In this episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern welcomes Dr. Helen Riess, Harvard Medical School psychiatrist, empathy researcher, and author of The Empathy Effect.

Together, they explore how empathy—often considered an emotional instinct—is actually a learnable, science-based skill that can transform how we connect, communicate, and lead.

As the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Empathetics, Dr. Riess has spent her career studying the neuroscience of empathy and translating those findings into practical tools for healthcare, education, business, and leadership. Her pioneering EMPATHY® training program, tested in randomized controlled trials at Massachusetts General Hospital, has been proven to enhance patient-doctor relationships, reduce burnout, and improve outcomes across organizations.

Dr. Riess and Dr. Stern discuss how empathy is evolving in today's interconnected world—where compassion and understanding are more vital than ever. They explore how cultivating empathy can help us bridge divides, reduce dehumanization, and foster emotional intelligence in every sphere of life, from intimate relationships to global leadership.

Listeners will learn how to:

• Apply empathy as a daily practice at work, at home, and in leadership

• Recognize and counteract dehumanization and scapegoating

• Strengthen emotional connection in high-stress or polarized environments

• Build cultures of compassion that promote well-being and trust

• How misuse can be lead to empathy being weaponized

Dr. Riess's work has earned numerous awards, including the Partners HealthCare Medical Education Research Award and recognition from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for Humanism in Medicine. She is also a core member of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations, helping to shape the future of emotionally intelligent leadership.

As Dr. Riess reminds us, "Nourishing empathy lets us help not just ourselves, but everyone we interact with—whether for a moment or a lifetime."

To check out this and other episodes, head over to robinstern.com.

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Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

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