"Why is empathizing across groups so much more difficult?"

March 21, 2015 4:10 PM

The Brain’s Empathy Gap: [New York Times]

Can mapping neural pathways help us make friends with our enemies?

posted by Fizz (3 comments total)

Fuck no, people who like yogurt for breakfast aren't human!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:37 PM on March 21, 2015 [3 favorites]

FMRI NOW BIGGER AND BETTER THAN JESUS

Scientists are finding the technology reasonably effective at detecting proxies for broad levels of neural activity, within its limitations.
posted by Segundus at 1:05 AM on March 22, 2015 [5 favorites]

I've read that the foundation of empathy is self-awareness, and it makes sense. We are most likely to exercise compassionate assessment of ourselves, then extend it to others. What leads a person to develop self-awareness? Maybe just an introspective temperament, plus intelligence, permission from the surrounding culture, some external suffering.
posted by mmiddle at 6:37 PM on March 22, 2015