ENIGMATIC EMPATHY
The human brain is like a wild tree that always has new roots and branches emerging from it. These new branches and roots have
interesting functions and keep scientists hooked up all the time. One such recent area of research is “ mirror neurons” located in the premotor cortex of the brain. As the name suggests, the function of mirror neurons is similar to that of a mirror. A mirror neuron is a brain cell, that responds to both observed and self produced actions. This is the key difference that differentiates mirror neurons from other motor or sensory neurons whose excitation is associated either with execution or observation of an action but not both. The mirror neurons were first reported in the macaque monkey ventral premotor area. The discovery of mirror neurons has prompted the notion that execution and observation are closely related processes; it has opened a new way of thinking about how we monitor and interpret the action of others.
For example, when we say laughter is contagious it refers to how our mirror neurons fire by merely observing somebody laughing at a particular joke thus causing us to react the same way. The same applies to how you automatically yawn when a person beside you does the action. Mirror neurons are also the reason why we unknowingly cry when the fictional character cries in the movie.
The function of this neuron is observed from the infant stage of a human itself. The baby tries to imitate the adult and tries to learn new skills. Mirror neurons support observational learning and promote imitation. However, we don't need to understand the meaning of everything we try to imitate, it is evident in the fact that we can understand actions that we can’t perform, such as fly, slither, or coil. Now we have different questions as to why we don’t feel the pain when the person beside us is pinched? Is it that the mirror neurons are not working? However the answer to this question is our “pain receptors”. When we observe somebody else being pinched, our pain receptors present in our skin send a quick neural message to our brain confirming that it is merely an observation. Hence, practically what separates one human from another is a large barrier - our skin.
Now the interesting part is that how we connect this scientific discovery to humanities. For long, science and humanities were considered as two different entities. However, with advancements in science and technology, humans can map the connection between the two.
Mirror neurons play a major role in how we perceive empathy as a major factor that helps build social connections. Most people confuse between empathy and sympathy.
According to Hodges and Myers in the encyclopaedia of social psychology, “Empathy is often defined as understanding another person’s experience by imagining oneself in that person’s situation: one understands the other person’s experience as if it were being experienced by the self, but without the self actually experiencing it.
Sympathy, in contrast, involves the experience of being moved by, or responding in tune with, another person.”
However, studies have shown how mirror neurons help us empathise by getting into the other person’s shoes.
Empathy is broadly of two types:
Emotional empathy and cognitive empathy.
Empathy is genetic! Researches have confirmed that an active part of our brain called the striatum is associated with it. Showing empathy is also influenced by the way our surroundings affect the stimulation of our mirror neurons.
Let’s take an example to understand the difference between emotional and cognitive empathy.
Cognitive empathy example:
Friend: I am worried that I might fail this test as well.
You: I understand, don’t worry you can prepare and write well next time.
Friend: I am worried that I might fail this test as well.
You: I understand your concern, don’t worry I will help you out to learn for the next test.
While both types of empathy are equally important and have a thin line of difference between them, sometimes it so happens that we might lose the balance. When there is an imbalance of empathy—leaning too heavily on cognitive empathy and not enough on emotional empathy—our connections with people could feel strained. Although the person you are trying to help or comfort may sense that you have an understanding of their situation, which can certainly feel helpful, it may leave them with the impression that they are a bit misunderstood, unseen, or unheard. The shared emotional experience can feel quite comforting and healing to someone in need. As acclaimed author and leadership expert Stephen Covey stated, "When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down and positive energy replaces it. That's when you can get more creative in solving problems."
For example, when we say laughter is contagious it refers to how our mirror neurons fire by merely observing somebody laughing at a particular joke thus causing us to react the same way. The same applies to how you automatically yawn when a person beside you does the action. Mirror neurons are also the reason why we unknowingly cry when the fictional character cries in the movie.
The function of this neuron is observed from the infant stage of a human itself. The baby tries to imitate the adult and tries to learn new skills. Mirror neurons support observational learning and promote imitation. However, we don't need to understand the meaning of everything we try to imitate, it is evident in the fact that we can understand actions that we can’t perform, such as fly, slither, or coil. Now we have different questions as to why we don’t feel the pain when the person beside us is pinched? Is it that the mirror neurons are not working? However the answer to this question is our “pain receptors”. When we observe somebody else being pinched, our pain receptors present in our skin send a quick neural message to our brain confirming that it is merely an observation. Hence, practically what separates one human from another is a large barrier - our skin.
Now the interesting part is that how we connect this scientific discovery to humanities. For long, science and humanities were considered as two different entities. However, with advancements in science and technology, humans can map the connection between the two.
Mirror neurons play a major role in how we perceive empathy as a major factor that helps build social connections. Most people confuse between empathy and sympathy.
According to Hodges and Myers in the encyclopaedia of social psychology, “Empathy is often defined as understanding another person’s experience by imagining oneself in that person’s situation: one understands the other person’s experience as if it were being experienced by the self, but without the self actually experiencing it.
Sympathy, in contrast, involves the experience of being moved by, or responding in tune with, another person.”
However, studies have shown how mirror neurons help us empathise by getting into the other person’s shoes.
Empathy is broadly of two types:
Emotional empathy and cognitive empathy.
Let’s take an example to understand the difference between emotional and cognitive empathy.
Cognitive empathy example:
Friend: I am worried that I might fail this test as well.
You: I understand, don’t worry you can prepare and write well next time.
Friend: I am worried that I might fail this test as well.
You: I understand your concern, don’t worry I will help you out to learn for the next test.
While both types of empathy are equally important and have a thin line of difference between them, sometimes it so happens that we might lose the balance. When there is an imbalance of empathy—leaning too heavily on cognitive empathy and not enough on emotional empathy—our connections with people could feel strained. Although the person you are trying to help or comfort may sense that you have an understanding of their situation, which can certainly feel helpful, it may leave them with the impression that they are a bit misunderstood, unseen, or unheard. The shared emotional experience can feel quite comforting and healing to someone in need. As acclaimed author and leadership expert Stephen Covey stated, "When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down and positive energy replaces it. That's when you can get more creative in solving problems."
Needless to worry, as humans we always inculcate new habits and training to empathise is on the list as well!
A few ways to learn to empathise are:
1. Try making new friends and relations to get to know new people and perspectives.
2. Step out of your comfort zone
3. Accept feedback
4. Practice meditation etc.
5. Learn to listen
Hence, learning to empathise is a continuous learning process that develops as we grow.
So, now we get a rough insight into the “behind the screen work” of empathising.
References:
1.https://lesley.edu/article/the-psychology-of-emotional-and-cognitive-empathy
2.https://www.verywellmind.com/cognitive-and-emotional-empathy-4582389
3.https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/mirror-neurons-how-we-reflect-on-behavior
4.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898692/
5.https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/whats-so-special-about-mirror-neurons/
6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898692/
7.https://takealtus.com/2020/07/empathy-2/
8.https://positivepsychology.com/empathy-worksheets/
9. Ted talks
10. Wikipedia
Good One! Keep Writing!
ReplyDeleteNice blog. Learnt new things. Keep rocking.
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