Understanding Paul's Case: Empathy, Values, and Communication Analysis

This case study analyzes the character of Paul, a 16-year-old engaging in risky behaviors, to identify empathy gaps related to sexual arousal and drug cravings. It contrasts Paul's actions with the author's values of integrity, love, and honesty, highlighting Paul's lack of commitment to school and disregard for his parents' sacrifices. The study further explores effective communication strategies, such as asking open-ended questions and maintaining eye contact, to build empathy and understanding when interacting with Paul. The goal is to provide a framework for compassionate engagement with individuals facing similar challenges. Desklib provides numerous resources to students, including solved assignments and past papers.

Paul’s Case Study 1
Paul’s Case Study
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Paul’s Case Study 2
Chosen case study: Paul case study
In this case study, Paul who is the main character describes the events that transpired
before he became homeless. At 16 years old, Paul engaged in immoral activities such as
premature sex, smoking weed and frequently got himself into trouble. The activities that Paul
was engaging in angered not only his friends but also his family members especially his mother
who chased him away from home.
Identification of the empathy gaps
From Paul’s case study, various empathy gaps can be deduced. One such empathy gap is
having sexual arousal. From, a personal point of view, at 16 years of age, Paul is still a teenager.
This is the age Paul is expected to focus on his studies as he tries to shape his future. From the
case study however, Paul already had a girl pregnant at this early age. This means that Paul had a
strong sex strive which according to me is not normal for a person his age. Also, drug cravings is
another empathy gap that can be deduced from this case study. In the case study, Paul
acknowledges that he was a fun loving kid who smoked some weed with friends. As a result of
smoking weed, he got very rude and even threatened to kill his father. This are the effects of
smoking weed. At 16 years, I will not understand how Paul will have cravings for hard drugs like
weed. This is so because those drugs are not only expensive, but also illegal. Therefore, I expect
a 16 year like Paul to be less informed about where to get and how to use these types of drugs.
A description of the person based on the values and beliefs that I hold
My top three personal values include integrity, love, and honesty. From the Paul’s case
study provided, it’s evident that Paul does not value honesty, love and integrity. This is so
because Paul had a loving mother and father who thought it well to take him to school and give

Paul’s Case Study 3
everything they had. The best way for Paul to show love to his parents was to work hard in
school by staying committed. However, based on the case study, Paul stayed away from school
more often which shows he had no love for what his parents have sacrificed for him. Similarly,
by not being committed to his schoolwork, it shows that Paul had no love for his academics.
Integrity refers to having strong moral principles (Willer, Wimer & Owens 2015, P. 53). From
the case study, it’s evident that Paul had no moral principles. This is so because first, he gets
involved in premature sex with a fellow teenager. This shows that Paul is a loose person who
cannot control his sexual desires. Also, despite all the love and the sacrifice his parents are
making for him, engages in illegal activities such as smoking weed and avoiding school
willingly. Engaging in such activities shows Paul is a morally lose person who cannot control his
cravings for drugs. Honesty is another value that Paul lacks based on his story from the case
study. Honesty refers to being true to oneself and to those that matter to you (Waytz, et al. 2016
P.67). As a person who had already messed up by impregnating his girlfriend at an early age,
Paul would have demonstrated honesty by opening up to his parents and asking for forgiveness.
However, based on case study, Paul’s parents came to know of him impregnating a fellow
teenager by themselves. This act of Paul of keeping secrets show that he is not an honest
person.
A discussion of the communication strategies to be used when communicating with
the person empathically.
When communicating with Paul, one of the verbal communication strategy I will employ
is asking questions. This strategy is very important because it will help me get to get insights on
what drives Paul into such immoral activities. Also, by asking questions about his situation, it
will make Paul believe that I am more concerned about the situation he is in and that I am willing

Paul’s Case Study 4
to help him out. This will make him to open up on the things that he once feared to say.
However, when asking questions, it’s important to avoid personal questions that will make Paul
feel ashamed of himself as this will make him less likely to share his story. Also, premeditating
what I am going to ask or tell Paul is another significant verbal communication strategy I will
employ when talking to Paul. Mediating what I am going to say is important because it will give
me time to internalize what Paul has told me and how he will react to what I will tell him. If from
the meditation I conclude that what I am going to say will negatively impact the communication
I have with Paul, then I will not say it. However, if I conclude that Paul will benefit from what I
am going to say, then I will go ahead and say it to him. Regarding nonverbal communication,
keeping eye contact with Paul when I am communicating to Paul will greatly help. Keeping eye
contact is important because it will make Paul believe that I am paying attention to what he is
telling me and that I am concerned about what he is telling me. This will motivate Paul to open
up to me because he knows that I am going to help him out. Keeping attention will also enable to
understand what Paul is telling me.

Paul’s Case Study 5
Reference
Willer, R., Wimer, C. and Owens, L.A., 2015. What drives the gender gap in charitable giving?
Lower empathy leads men to give less to poverty relief. Social science research, 52, pp.83-98.
Waytz, A., Iyer, R., Young, L. and Graham, J., 2016. Ideological differences in the expanse of
empathy. Social psychology of political polarization, pp.61-77.