Writing to Empathize: How Creative Writing Can Boost Empathy

One of the pressing challenges of our modern world is an empathy deficit. Cultivating the ability to put oneself in another’s shoes and genuinely care has become increasingly vital. While interest in empathy is rising, and empirical studies explore the link between reading and empathic development, research on how creative writing fosters empathy remains limited and is mostly confined to fields like narrative medicine and reflective writing. This paper aims to bridge this gap while also proposing directions for future inquiry about the potential of creative writing to enhance empathy, under certain conditions. By drawing parallels with research on reading fiction and empathy, we provide a framework for understanding the empathic potential of creative writing and invite empirical testing of three main hypotheses. Based on our first hypothesis (thereafter Hyp1), stillness and immersion are arguably necessary conditions for writing, paving the way for empathy to arise, making creative writing a particularly suitable practice for fostering empathy. Our second hypothesis (Hyp2) comprises several sub-hypotheses about the ways in which writing could enhance empathic abilities, aiming to outline guidelines for designing empirical studies about the connection between creative writing and empathy. Finally, our last hypothesis (Hyp3) claims that the depth of an author’s imaginative engagement with their characters during the writing process (i.e. vivid character embodiment) likely determines the extent to which empathy is cultivated. This article represents an initial exploration of the ways in which a relationship between writing and empathy can be theorized. At the same time, readers are invited to consider this proposal as a contribution to broader reflections on contemporary social challenges. With due caution, we will illustrate how creative writing may serve as a strategy to counter prejudice and thus contribute to the advancement of social justice.