The cross-cultural significance of empathy as an instrument to prevent aggression.

A cross-cultural framework is fundamental in order to address the more significant themes concerning social relationships, such as, for instance, education against violence. Empathy is a key concept in that it implies a process of decentering and the superseding of an egocentric, ethnocentric and anthropocentric outlook. A personal and individual approach to the development of empathy is particularly significant. By allowing deep emotions to be expressed, literature, as well as other kinds of expression, makes it possible to share the experiences of other individuals, even from different cultures and, hence, can foster an empathic attitude toward them. When we refer to empathy in cross-cultural relationships and in human relationships in general the focus is very often on the "persecuting" individual or group rather than on the "victimized" individual or group. However, the knowledge of the psychological motivations of the "persecuting" individual or group on the part of the "victimized" individual or group is also helpful in order to achieve a certain level of understanding between the two parties. Finally, since empathy is a process that can permeate all human relationships, the development of empathy between different ethnic groups can promote the development of empathy among human beings in general as well as between human beings and the other animal species.