Empathy is Really an Evolved Form of Knowledge

My notes:

The segment begins with a definition and quick historical account of the word empathy. Empathy is the ability to enter into another person's emotional experience. Benefits include defusing conflict. Historically, the word first showed up around the turn of the century where it originally referred to an intimate response to works of art. Only in the 1960's did it begin to revolve around the theme of connection.

Are we the only species that exhibit empathy? We are not if you look at the bonobo apes or the chimpanzees (in the spectrum of empathy, bonobo's are more docile, while chimpanzees are more agressive). Even if you don't believe that we descended from the apes, don't stop reading because there are behaviors in other animals that show empathy is not just a human trait, says Dr. Frans De Waal. He shares some of these terrific examples in the interview.

If you do believe we descended from apes, then these stories show how ancient these empathy/caring traits really are.

De Waal continues about how empathy is being in tune with emotions and INTENTION of someone else. The more complex/higher application of empathy relates to bonding, attachment and support systems -- to be in tune but to really try to understand why is someone acting like they are, put yourself in their shoes, and maybe even help.

We are not completely selfish or competitive. We have survived (whether from the times of the apes or the times of Adam and Eve), we have survived BECAUSE of cooperation, loyalty, solidarity. It helped us survive around the ice age campfire: "united we stand one big neanderthal family, divided we freakin' freeze to death."

In order to be empathic you realize it's a social experience....learning is involved....it's not all instinct.

The show goes on to introduce you to a small Canadian organization, expanding shortly in New Zealand (why not the US?!) called Roots of Empathy. This organization brings moms and infants into classrooms to help children understand the needs of babies, facial expressions and then apply those lessons to other people and situations. There success has been tremendous.

Next neuorscientist Read Montague talks about how new brain scanning techniques have enabled scientists to prove that our ability to empathize is an intrinsic part of our brain.

Scientists have discovered that there are neuron systems that MIRROR motor tasks. This makes it possible for all brains to learn physical motions; helps us mimic motor tasks. But what they found out as well is those neurons also help us mimic internally how another might FEEL. With this data, we can PREDICT what the other may or may not do. As Montague says, this provides very powerful information......if you are tapped in.

The social implications are huge. This data helps us in trade, bargaining/negotiating, and other social exchnages.

The understanding of empathy has revolutionized cognitive psychology. It's exactly these kinds of social instincts that malfunction into mental and developmental diseases. And, worse, some may never be able to learn empathy.

Sociopaths can't ever learn to empathize, or worse, they simulate what other people feel but never CARE about it.

Next, there's a short segment on empathy and an Asian comedian; how he uses comedy to help people understand immigrant life.

The segment on Tuft University's Empathy 101 class tells us that empathy courses are now a requirement for any accredited medical school. These courses show 1st year medical students how to give bad news, how to talk about sensitive topics like religion and sexuality and how to connect with others. Students have discovered their own abilities and see how a little empathy goes a long way. One student talks about how a crying patient afraid for her children's future if she dies and this crying unsettles the medical student's feelings. Rather than empathize, she deflects the issue, trying to change the subject. The medical student learns from her failed opportunity to empathize that it isn't so bad to hear the paitent out -- that it's OK to let the patient cry and discuss the issue. I'll add that it's more than OK; it's mandatory.

The final interview is with the Anna and Paul Ornstein, pioneers in the field of self-psychology.

They define empathic listening as being patient and accepting. It's the ability to see beneath the so-called defenses of what it is the patient is afraid of. What's new in this perspective is that psychiatry usually looks at the theoretical interpretation of a patient's behavior rather than their own subjective experience.

For examnple, empathic listening is powerful when you have a chronic angry patient. With empathy you don't respond with punishment or rejection (commen responses to anger). Instead you try to understand and explore the source of anger, which is very likely a deep hurt.

The program ends with a commentary from John Hockenberry, which actually might have been a better intro than closing.