Social and emotional conditions greatly affect how individuals accommodate and gain knowledge from various sources. When a learner becomes more emotionally secure he or she becomes more motivated to learn. An additional factor for motivation is the support he or she receives from the immediate caregivers or loved ones. Moreover, for older learners in high school and college, the more empathetic the learner becomes, the more he or she is able to collaborate, reduce conflict, and become more open to diverse perspectives which are all essentials in inclusive learning (Kim & Reyes, 2024). Similarly, a study in 2025 reported that through empathy-based interventions incidences of peer aggression were significantly reduced and classes felt more connected (Santos et al., 2025).  On the other hand, if a learner does not have any motivation to learn, does not receive any support, or still lacks empathy he or she will find it difficult to pursue learning because of the social skills he or she lacks (Williams & Han, 2024).

Related video 

Why Empathy is the Most Important Skill You’ll Ever Learn – TEDx Talks

References

Kim, E., & Reyes, R. (2024). Empathy, peer support, and academic engagement: Evidence from collaborative learning environments. Journal of Educational Research, 118(3), 245–259.
Santos, L. P., Hernandez, C., & Ong, M. (2025). Empathy-based interventions and social connectedness in school communities. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1532489.
Williams, J., & Han, Y. (2024). The role of emotional intelligence in fostering empathy and prosocial classroom behavior. Teaching and Teacher Education, 136, 104433.

Why Empathy is the Most Important Skill You’ll Ever Learn – TEDx Talks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baHrcC8B4WM