Researchers at the University of New England are seeking couples who want to enhance their relationship by increasing how much they understand each other’s emotions. The couples empathy training goes over a fortnight, takes 40 minutes total online and includes an assignment to show empathy during day-to-day interactions with each other.

The aim of the research is to test the effects of online empathy training on couples. According to principal investigator, Associate Professor John Malouff “empathy involves awareness of another person’s emotions. At a deep level we can even feel the other person’s emotions. Empathy can help bring two individuals closer and can help each interact effectively with the other.”

Co-investigator Zoe Guider, a UNE student, said that they are looking for 100 couples to complete the training.

To qualify for the study, couples must be at least 18 years old and have been in a romantic relationship with each other for a least two months. All information provided by couples will be kept confidential.

For more information about the study, go to https://tinyurl.com/empathic-couple or contact Zoe at zguider@myune.edu.au.

Media contact: jmalouff@une.edu.au, 02 6773 3776.