Rifkin highlights three aspects of empathy:
(1) the activity of mirror neurons,
(2) soft-wiring of humans for cooperative and empathic traits, and (3) the expansion of the empathic circle from blood ties to nation-sates to (hopefully) the whole biosphere.
Idea (3) on the expanding circle is closely related to the evolution of ethnocentrism. Unfortunately, the Hammond & Axelrod model of ethnocentrism does not look promising for the idea of expanding our circles.
By Ben ThomasIacoboni, as usual, takes a more integrative view: Current theories of empathy suggest a multilayer functional structure, with a core layer of automatic responses to reproduce the affective states of others.Mirror neurons are likely c…
UCSB researchers studying empathy in relationships find that in the absence of caring, understanding alone doesn’t cut it New research by psychologists at UC Santa Barbara reveals that simply understanding your partner’s sufferin…
Empathy is hot in business wisdom these days: Forbes says it’sinvaluable, Apple’s training manual offers empathy exercises, and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson calls caring “key.”Corporate empathy is not an oxymor…
In Eastern Kentucky University’s final Chautauqua lecture of the 2011-12 series Thursday, April 26, an Eastern Kentucky University psychology professor will address the subject of empathy. Dr. Matthew Winslow, an associate professor in the…
