Are the rich really the unfeeling boors they’re made out to be? Studies suggest that the richer people are, the less compassion they show.
empathy
Rats Show Empathy and Free Their Trapped Companions
Rats may not be, well, such rats after all. In the first study of its kind, researchers show that rats engage in empathy-driven behavior, helping to free a trapped cagemate for no reward other than relieving its fellow rat’s …
How Being Socially Connected May Sap Your Empathy
Feeling socially connected is good for you, both physically and mentally, but in a paradox, it may also make you less empathetic to the plight of others.
Q&A: Steven Pinker’s Case for Why the World Is Heading Toward Peace
Amidst the headlines tallying the damage wrought by persistent economic decline, cataclysmic climate change and unbending political stalemate — among other things — Harvard psychology professor Steven Pinker brings good news.
Relationships 101: Having a Supportive Mom Helps You Commit
Commitment can be a scary word. But if you want to teach your child how to love well, new research suggests being a supportive mom is key.
Q&A: Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen on Empathy and the Science of Evil
Cambridge psychology professor and leading autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen is best known for studying the theory that a key problem in autistic disorders is “mind blindness,” difficulty understanding the thoughts, feelings and …
Why Your Embarrassment Causes Me So Much Pain
Ever find yourself physically cringing as you watch those hopeful contestants on American Idol who have no clue that they can’t sing? If so, you’re probably a highly empathetic person, according to new study published in the …
Study: Botox Users Have Trouble Reading Emotions in Others
We all know that Botox injections paralyze facial muscles — which is why it’s used between the brows to iron out frown lines — and can therefore make users appear less emotional. Now a new study finds that the cosmetic toxin …
Appreciation: G. Alan Marlatt Brought Compassion to Addiction Treatment
Many people claim to be pioneers in addiction treatment, but few have left a more important legacy than G. Alan Marlatt, professor of psychology at University of Washington, who died of melanoma on March 14, at age 69.
Doctors Who Feel Your Pain Heal More Patients
Empathy is often seen as a nice — but nonessential — part of medicine. Indeed, for surgeons in the operating room, seeing the patient as a human being may actually be an obstacle to successful performance. At the bedside, …
Why Are College Students Reporting Record High Levels of Stress?
College students are more stressed out than ever before — at least according to the latest findings of a large, national survey that has been conducted annually for the last 25 years. The survey includes more than 200,000 …
“Love Hormone” Oxytocin Is Choosy, But Not Necessarily Racist
In his memorial speech for the victims of the assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords yesterday, President Obama urged Americans to use the tragedy to “sharpen our instincts for empathy.” But is human capacity for …
Drug Surprise: Meth Makes You Feel Almost As Cuddly as Ecstasy
Ecstasy (MDMA) is known as the “love drug,” because it prompts cuddles, hugs and, often, a sense of deep understanding between people.