Empathy

[zeroturbulence]

I sometimes wish I could un-learn empathy..

 

[Miri]

God hard wired us with some learning programming. They discovered that when we watch certain individuals, especially in our close circles, we neurologically experience the same thing they do. By sticking electrodes in the brains of monkeys they saw that when the monkeys watched other monkeys eat, or whatever it fired the same corresponding neurons in their own brains. They called them mirror neurons. The reaction was more prevalent among closely related primates, like parents and offspring or younger to older but less older to younger. This makes perfect sense when you look at the how we react when we see somebody get their hand burnt, we wince. When a child scores a goal, or misses the goal, the parent reacts accordingly. The conclusions can be drawn that we learn from those close to us, and in authority, but not subordinate. If we see someone as less of an authority we have less of learning connectivity. This is empathy.

Also the brain is always trying to seek balance. If it experiences too much excitement or not enough, it adjusts. It "throttles" the receptors accordingly. If you present too much excitement to your brain with chemicals like cocaine or video games it causes your brain to become less receptive to excitement. This results in depression and you have to continually increase the excitement until the point where no excitement is enough, enter depression. The opposite is true as well. If you have a crappy life and nothing to do, your brain will adapt and cause excitement with very little. Many stand up comedians came from impoverished, or abusive circumstances. It's God's way of allowing us to be happy with less.

There is direct relation with things like watching movies but to cut through the chase, our brain adapts to experience. If we experience continual, physical and emotional trauma, our brain disconnects from emotion. Then you get sociopathic behaviour. I think that these people are so starving for any form of emotion that they turn to causing the extreme pain of others to get just a tingle for themselves. Narcissistic behaviour I believe is the result from having one parent that has nothing but praise and the other who has nothing but criticism. This leaves the individual with extreme insecurities, protected by outer self who is seemingly accomplished. They work hard to keep up appearances. If there is any challenge to this facade, the individual will lash out to any degree to conceal the weak, fallible self. These people look like they have it all together, and seek controllable mates. They look like perfect parents then in private become abusive.

Glad im not a monkey then.

 

[oyster67]

What if someone lacks sympathy, empathy, and can't feel love towards anyone, including family

Things that are impossible with man are possible with God. Jesus could love those who crucified Him. He is willing to enable us, but we need to be humble and ask Him for it.

This set of verses ends with a suggestion to pray and ask for wisdom, rather than to try to work it out on our own. I think it probably works the same way for sympathy, empathy, and love.

(Jas 1:2 [KJV])
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

(Jas 1:3 [KJV])
Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

(Jas 1:4 [KJV])
But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

(Jas 1:5 [KJV])
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 

[zeroturbulence]

What if someone lacks sympathy, empathy, and can't feel love towards anyone, including family

They are probably one of those people who have very low levels of oxytocin. No, really. I've known about it for years, but its news to most people..

https://psychcentral.com/news/2016/11/06/low-oxytocin-levels-linked-to-reduced-empathy/112110.html

 

[Stephen63]

God hard wired us with some learning programming. They discovered that when we watch certain individuals, especially in our close circles, we neurologically experience the same thing they do. By sticking electrodes in the brains of monkeys they saw that when the monkeys watched other monkeys eat, or whatever it fired the same corresponding neurons in their own brains. They called them mirror neurons. The reaction was more prevalent among closely related primates, like parents and offspring or younger to older but less older to younger. This makes perfect sense when you look at the how we react when we see somebody get their hand burnt, we wince. When a child scores a goal, or misses the goal, the parent reacts accordingly. The conclusions can be drawn that we learn from those close to us, and in authority, but not subordinate. If we see someone as less of an authority we have less of learning connectivity. This is empathy.

There is direct relation with things like watching movies but to cut through the chase, our brain adapts to experience. If we experience continual, physical and emotional trauma, our brain disconnects from emotion. Then you get sociopathic behaviour. I think that these people are so starving for any form of emotion that they turn to causing the extreme pain of others to get just a tingle for themselves. Narcissistic behaviour I believe is the result from having one parent that has nothing but praise and the other who has nothing but criticism. This leaves the individual with extreme insecurities, protected by outer self who is seemingly accomplished. They work hard to keep up appearances. If there is any challenge to this facade, the individual will lash out to any degree to conceal the weak, fallible self. These people look like they have it all together, and seek controllable mates. They look like perfect parents then in private become abusive.

IMO this explains why we have generational decline with our young people.

The previous generation teaches their children their behavior patterns, as well as watching wickedness on TV.

If their young brains mimic the violence & the sin on TV, it's no wonder society's morals is dropping like a rock.

It also explains why every child at Sodom & Gomorrah was destroyed completely.

 

[Willie-T]

They are probably one of those people who have very low levels of oxytocin. No, really. I've known about it for years, but its news to most people..

https://psychcentral.com/news/2016/11/06/low-oxytocin-levels-linked-to-reduced-empathy/112110.html

The cuddle chemical only seems to work for me when puppies are involved.

 

[Hungry]

IMO this explains why we have generational decline with our young people.

The previous generation teaches their children their behavior patterns, as well as watching wickedness on TV.

If their young brains mimic the violence & the sin on TV, it's no wonder society's morals is dropping like a rock.

It also explains why every child at Sodom & Gomorrah was destroyed completely.

Television is especially dangerous because it causes our brains to reduce to alpha state. This is the state that hypnotists bring the brain to, to program it. We are able to get emotionally affected because we are participating neurologically at this state. Since the brain does not question reality, it only records and processes information, this unless challenged becomes weaved into our subconscious and becomes part of our belief system. It's all done subliminally.

 

[Depleted]

Television is especially dangerous because it causes our brains to reduce to alpha state. This is the state that hypnotists bring the brain to, to program it. We are able to get emotionally affected because we are participating neurologically at this state. Since the brain does not question reality, it only records and processes information, this unless challenged becomes weaved into our subconscious and becomes part of our belief system. It's all done subliminally.

In which case, the entire population of the world, particularly First World Nations ought to be The Matrix in reality. Nothing but zombies. Because there isn't a man, woman, or child in the US who hasn't grown up hooked on TV.

 

[Sirk]

Is empathy something you can teach or is it natural?

Empathy is a learned skill. It is a problem solving pain chasing skill and has nothing to do with a feeling or an emotion. The one thing that criminals, abusers, narcissists and many other anti social behaviors all have in common is the fact they have no empathy. It can be taught. I've sat in rooms with violent men who have learned the skill of empathy and have gone on to lead very productive lives and turned from violent angry men to soft sweet men who become great fathers and husbands.

But they all wanted it. You can't be helped if you don't first admit that you need it. IMO.....empathy is the single most important skill a human being can learn. They make coachable kids, good employees, good fathers and wives. They are happier and more secure and are just great people and great friends.

Empathy is summed up in my favorite bible verse:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than you consider yourself.

 

[oldethennew]

there are very few 'left' Lynn; my mother-in-law' was one of them just a very few years ago,
hub was the youngest of over a 20yr.span from older sisters...

his mother rode a pony and cart to school and won a scholar-ship to college, but her father declined for her...
she was an amazing woman, and from all of her children, her only 'son' my husband, stepped-up and claimed
to honor her and take care of her, her daughters declined; they were to busy with their 'own-lives',
to be able to submit themselves to honoring their Mother in her 'last-days' upon earth'...