Empathy

Introduction

Empathy is about authentically caring for other people.
We all like to meet other people who care about what us and what we are doing, ie
"...a person who is interested in their thoughts, their ideas, their perspective. A person who makes mistakes and talks about what they have learnt from it. They want to know you. And be known..."
Georgia Murch, 2024a
This can mean that you have to become vulnerable and people can be nervous about exposing themselves.
"...outside food, water and shelter, our greatest human need is to belong. To know that we matter..."
Georgia Murch, 2024a

Surveys indicate that empathy is on the decline, ie University of Michigan research indicates a reduction since the 1980s and a more recent acceleration of this trend.

Some possible explanations
- increasing social isolation (
"...Over the the past 70 years, the percentage of one-person households in Australia has increased by a staggering 300%..."
Australian Institute of Family Studies as quoted by Peter Quarry, 2023a

Furthermore, people have fewer friends, ie
"...In 1985, the average number of close friends of a person was 2.9. By 2004, it had dropped to 2.1..."
American Sociological Review as quoted by Peter Quarry, 2023a

In addition, over the same period the percentage of people who said they had no close friends has tripled.)
- impact of the Internet (this has accelerated the social isolation, ie
"...activities that previously would have brought us in contact with other, from card nights to grocery shopping, have been largely replaced with solar activity is conducted online..."
Peter Quarry, 2023a

"...socially isolated people tend to evaluate others less generously - never a good predictor of empathy..."
Stephen Duck as quoted by Peter Quarry, 2023a)

- busyness (people become exhausted by the constant demands placed on them, ie we have less time and energy to give
"...people primary just don't want to make the mental effort to feel empathy towards others. The pandemic has helped. Studies show empathy levels drop 14% between 2019 and 2022..."
Daryl Cameron as quoted by Peter Quarry, 2023a

There is empathy burnout with the continual media bombardment, especially of bad news.)
Empathy training
Research has shown that 10% of one's empathy is genetically acquired. Thus the remaining 90% is learnt behaviour, ie you can develop it; empathy training does work, ie you can learn how to identify emotions in others and respond appropriately. For this to happen, you need to be motivated.

Narcissism
The polar opposite of empathy, narcissism is on the increase, ie
"...People seem more selfish, and see less benefit in being empathic. This appears particularly at true of younger generations, who prioritise self-expression over others and are fiercely individualistic..."
Peter Quarry, 2023a

Some TV shows, like 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' promote narcissistic self-absorption.