'Some people scarcely move when touched. While some are moved with scarce a touch'- Source Unknown
"What, Me Care? Young are Less Empathetic.
".1 Empathy, long considered innate, has been unexpectedly challenged by a U.S. study led by Dr. Sara H. Konrath and published online in
Personality and Social Psychology Review. In this self-reported study of 14,000 students, the researchers found
empathy levels have declined over the past 30 years.On the other side of the same coin, another self-reported study carried out by psychologists, Jean M. Twenge with W. Keith Campbell, reported
narcissism, a psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation and a lack of empathy, has
reached new heights. Their book,
The Narcissism Epidemic (2009), explores the rise of narcissism in American culture.
2 In a TV interview on the Meredith Vieria Show, Twenge describes the U.S. condition as "suffering from an epidemic of narcissism."
3In addition, drawing on a database of more than 75,000 assessments from 2011-2013, a global sample was created by EQ, an organization dedicated to increasing emotional intelligence around the world. The report, "The State of the Heart," also noted
emotional intelligence that encompasses empathy and compassion in young people is declining in comparison with people over 40 years of age.
4What makes these studies particularly relevant in today's world is their association with known character traits expressed, ranging from schoolyard bullying to heinous violence. The problem is widespread among children and youth and, too often, comes with serious consequences.
Comment: Campbell reminds us that we need to practice direct compassion for our self just as much as we do for others: