Psychotherapist Nannette Funderburk joined us on the WFMY Good Morning Show to talk about empathy.
There have been hateful attacks targeted at actress Leslie Jones on social media recently. People are questioning how some can say hurtful things.
Dr. Funderburk said our decrease in face-to-face, deeply felt, interpersonal connections has made it easier not to see the humanity in others.
She also talked about how the presence or absence of empathy impacts our society. Dr. Funderburk said human beings are built for connection. This is why infants are prescribed “skin time” or why solitary confinement is a punishment that can lead to mental health issues.
The presence of empathy allows us to work together peacefully to continue to meet the needs of a community. Its absence leads to individuals becoming more and more isolated, until the whole is no longer recognizable.
