This presentation begins with a consideration of the rise of empathy in public and academic discourse. Today, it is common for politicians and academics to treat empathy as a virtue. While politicians view empathy as an intrinsically positive social phenomenon that can improve the moral fabric of our communities, empathy researchers tend to construe it as a key mechanism in altruism and helping behaviour. The objective of this presentation is to expand the analysis of this emotional dynamic by introducing a “new” sociology of empathy. This sociology contests the prevalent understanding of empathy as intrinsically “positive,” and instead focuses on the multiple uses and meanings of empathy in society. To construct a framework for this new sociology, I build upon Charles H. Cooley’s “old” sociology of empathy, with his pioneering three-dimensional conceptualization, and integrate his insights into a more contemporary approach. Borrowing from Erving Goffman and other theorists, I develop three conceptual tools—empathy frames, empathy rules, and empathy performances. Next, I theorize the notion of empathy paths. Throughout this presentation, I demonstrate the utility of this approach by using examples from a research project investigating birth doulas in the United States. This presentation concludes with a reflection on how this new sociology can inform dominant discourses on empathy.

About Natalia Ruiz-Junco

Natalia Ruiz-Junco is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Auburn University (United States). She works in the areas of social theory, social psychology, and sociology of emotions. Her work focuses on the topics of self, identity, and social interaction. She has a long-standing interest in interactionist, pragmatist, and interpretive theories, and qualitative methods. For a list of her publications, please visit her personal website: