Michael Abrahams | The decline of empathy

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines empathy as “ The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.” It originates from the Greek word empatheia (em, in; pathos, feeling).

By enhancing emotional awareness, empathy improves communication, helps create strong relationships, and drives prosocial behaviour such as compassion and kindness. Empathy not only benefits individuals but also societies and, by extension, the world.

Unfortunately, empathy appears to be on the decline. A study published in the Journal Personality and Social Psychology Review in 2011 found that, over the previous four decades, empathy had eroded across the population, with the average person in 2009 being less empathic than 75 per cent of individuals in 1979. Other research has also found that younger generations tend to be less empathetic and more narcissistic.

But, why is this happening? The answer is not simple. Rather, a combination of factors has contributed to our dwindling empathy. For instance, technology has attenuated human connection. We spend more time on our phones, computers, and other devices than we do with one another. On the one hand, social media makes it easy to connect with people but, on the other, the connections are not as deep as the ones we make when talking face-to-face or having oral telephone conversations. Sending short messages or making comments on social media pages makes relationships less personal and more distant.

Violence and geopolitical conflicts are nothing new. However, with the advent of the Internet and social media, we not only witness horrific acts of violence in real time, but these incidents are replayed multiple times on social and traditional media platforms. And, even if the sites take down the images, once viewers have downloaded them, they will always be available.

WAIT PATIENTLY

When United States President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, one would have to wait patiently for the news to be broadcast to see footage of the tragedy. Similarly, during World War II, footage of the conflict was only shown on the news at the time. Nowadays, horrific scenes such as the carnage in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and other war-torn areas, as well as high-profile killings such as the shooting deaths of American right-wing activist Charlie Kirk (who ironically expressed disdain for the word “empathy”) and, more recently, that of an American woman, Renee Nicole Good, by a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, are promptly shared on multiple sites. Not only does the bombardment by these images desensitise us, but social media also allows people to comment and share their views. And this is where the empathy deficit is on full display. Many are callous, cruel and insensitive in their language and comments, trolling and creating memes and GIFs to mock and ridicule victims of war and other violent acts, as well as those who grieve for them.

Modernisation and advances in technology have also led us to expect quick fixes and to fast-track things. This instant gratification leads to impatience and selfishness. The rise in consumerism, the insatiable desire to buy and have more material possessions, also makes people focused on themselves rather than helping others. Nature is a great source of peace, reflection, and connection with the world surrounding us. Unfortunately, many of us are disconnected from nature, spending our lives indoors in the city, in buildings, and with modern technology.

DIVIDED

The world is divided along political, religious, racial and other lines, and these divisions facilitate fear and ignorance. Some of us stop seeing others as being human, losing our humanity in the process. Moral values such as honesty, kindness, and respect have diminished. Cheating, lying and hurting people is often rewarded by material and financial success and fame, making stars out of reality show personalities and social media influencers who exhibit these behaviours. The lack of compassion from many leaders, more interested in exercising power and authority and personal gain rather than the needs of their people, is openly displayed, influencing many members of their societies to develop mindsets in which positive values and attitudes are of diminished significance.

How do we rectify this deficit? Societal changes start at the individual level. We first must be educated about why empathy is important and how it benefits mankind. The ‘them versus us’ narratives need to be diluted with ‘walking in their shoes’ conversations and reflections. We need to reconnect with nature and with one another. And we must instil this mindset in our children. Denmark has set a great example for us. Teaching empathy in schools has been mandatory in that country since 1993. In Danish schools, an hour a week is dedicated to “Klassens tid”, an empathy lesson for students ages six to 16. According to the United Nations’ World Happiness Report, Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world, and researchers have found that the mandatory teaching of empathy is a contributing factor.

Humanity benefits from empathy, and its decline is hurting us. We must do all we can to not only recognise and appreciate its importance, but also to display it.

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or follow him on X , formerly Twitter, @mikeyabrahams