Comments on: “I Feel Your Pain” – The Neural Basis of Empathy http://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/ Topics from multidimensional biopsychosocial perspectives Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:27:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Belief gives Power to Healing « Healthy in Hong Konghttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-600987 Belief gives Power to Healing « Healthy in Hong Kong Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:05:25 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-600987 [...] - http://brainblogger.com/2010/03/21/empathy-how-much-is-too-much/ & more on mirror neurons http://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/] My family reminded me that what is most important are my OWN beliefs. And, okay, that is [...] [...] – http://brainblogger.com/2010/03/21/empathy-how-much-is-too-much/ & more on mirror neurons http://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/ My family reminded me that what is most important are my OWN beliefs. And, okay, that is [...]

]]> By: MoiMoihttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-600474 MoiMoi Sat, 22 May 2010 16:23:02 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-600474 the mirror neuron theory started during the late 90s....no further studies have been made since then. the mirror neuron theory started during the late 90s….no further studies have been made since then.

]]> By: Situationism in the Blogosphere « The Situationisthttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-598151 Situationism in the Blogosphere « The Situationist Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:03:21 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-598151 [...] From Brain Blogger: “I Feel Your Pain” – The Neural Basis of Empathy” [...] [...] From Brain Blogger: “I Feel Your Pain” – The Neural Basis of Empathy” [...]

]]> By: Faroukhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-598055 Farouk Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:43:48 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-598055 no wonder confident and relaxed people make us feel relaxed and anxious people make us feel anxious no wonder confident and relaxed people make us feel relaxed and anxious people make us feel anxious

]]> By: Aprilhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-598054 April Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:02:39 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-598054 When we empathize, this simply shows that we are human and this sets us apart from animals. When we empathize, this simply shows that we are human and this sets us apart from animals.

]]> By: Javaid Akhtarhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597979 Javaid Akhtar Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:58:33 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-597979 Empathy neurons are hardware.....their suspension is software,. Most crimminals prefer not to be face to face with victims.Most executions take place with the executioner protecting his empathy neurons by blindfolding/hooding the victim , shooting in the back etc .. Crimminals who are made to empathise with the victim as part of the re-habiltation process have lower rates for re-offending. Nazis who had to shoot 100's of innocents with guns fell sick quickly...so hence the 'out-of-sight' gas chambers. And the Media is just like religion....very adept at channelling our empathies. Empathy neurons are hardware…..their suspension is software,.
Most crimminals prefer not to be face to face with victims.Most executions take place with the executioner protecting his empathy neurons by blindfolding/hooding the victim , shooting in the back etc ..
Crimminals who are made to empathise with the victim as part of the re-habiltation process have lower rates for re-offending.
Nazis who had to shoot 100′s of innocents with guns fell sick quickly…so hence the ‘out-of-sight’ gas chambers.
And the Media is just like religion….very adept at channelling our empathies.

]]> By: Margarita Quihuishttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597978 Margarita Quihuis Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:34:34 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-597978 Do you know if anyone has done research on the following: - impact of social technologies on mirror neurons and empathy - in other words, do platforms like Facebook increase/decrease empathy for others? - If in fact, watching is the same as doing, what is the affect of media in general - broadcast media, films, television on mirror neurons and empathy? Do you know if anyone has done research on the following:
– impact of social technologies on mirror neurons and empathy – in other words, do platforms like Facebook increase/decrease empathy for others?
- If in fact, watching is the same as doing, what is the affect of media in general – broadcast media, films, television on mirror neurons and empathy?

]]> By: Karen Primehttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597976 Karen Prime Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:30:31 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-597976 Mirror neurons... this do shed some light into the question of empathy. I wonder how criminals' minds work. It could mean they produce less mirror neurons and therefore feel no empathy whatsoever for the crimes they have committed. Would it be nice to dissect a brain of a criminal and that of a normal person? Just a thought... Mirror neurons… this do shed some light into the question of empathy. I wonder how criminals’ minds work. It could mean they produce less mirror neurons and therefore feel no empathy whatsoever for the crimes they have committed. Would it be nice to dissect a brain of a criminal and that of a normal person? Just a thought…

]]> By: Steven | The Emotion Machinehttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597974 Steven | The Emotion Machine Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:24:44 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-597974 Yes! I read about this in Daniel Goleman's book "Social Intelligence," where he says our brains are "wired to connect." I agree with Javaid Akhtar that we must have some way of suspending this function, especially in the context of criminal activity like stealing and killing. Some people are also just born with less of a capacity for empathy than others. I also imagine that there are environmental factors that can suppress one's empathy over time.Great post! Yes! I read about this in Daniel Goleman’s book “Social Intelligence,” where he says our brains are “wired to connect.” I agree with Javaid Akhtar that we must have some way of suspending this function, especially in the context of criminal activity like stealing and killing. Some people are also just born with less of a capacity for empathy than others. I also imagine that there are environmental factors that can suppress one’s empathy over time.

Great post!

]]> By: Mirror neurons , Evil and WiFi . « Littlebangtheories’s Bloghttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597972 Mirror neurons , Evil and WiFi . « Littlebangtheories’s Blog Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:22:54 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-597972 [...] http://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597971 [...] [...] http://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597971 [...]

]]> By: Javaid Akhtarhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597971 Javaid Akhtar Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:36:55 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-597971 Its interesting that the level of empathy we have for each other seems might have a basis in our sensori-motor mirror neurons...i.e we have to <em>see</em> ( be within sensory reach) to feel anothers pain. That would be useful because we would'nt be able to compete if we empathised with the competition ( over the hill and out of sight....or mass Media air-brushed ). Maybe the action of group dance could <em>synchronise</em> a tribe <em>to de-sychronise </em>/ & overcome the mirror neurons temporarily when we go spears in hand to kill fellow humans in another tribe.That synchronicity duality would be Media based today. We co-operate to compete.So somewhere along the line...<em>our ability to empathise must be able to be suspended</em> , so that we indeed to terrible things to fellow humans ...as that is what we have tended to do ..throughout history. I think we have rituals/memes that do this .Dances..music...media ..dis-information...I believe we pro-actively need to suspend ' the humanity ' of the object of our terror..so that we can inflict productive amounts of terror upon another set of individuals .In essence ..a short cut around our mirror neurons. Its a horrible thing to say in words....but I'm struck by how we always have a need to de-humanise people first ..before we can efficiently co-operate so that evil things can be committed against them.Is mass Religion such a short-cut? ..and spirituality the opposite end of the empathy scale ( the side that tips towards more empathy and fewer short -cuts) Its interesting that the level of empathy we have for each other seems might have a basis in our sensori-motor mirror neurons…i.e we have to see ( be within sensory reach) to feel anothers pain.
That would be useful because we would’nt be able to compete if we empathised with the competition ( over the hill and out of sight….or mass Media air-brushed ).
Maybe the action of group dance could synchronise a tribe to de-sychronise / & overcome the mirror neurons temporarily when we go spears in hand to kill fellow humans in another tribe.That synchronicity duality would be Media based today.
We co-operate to compete.So somewhere along the line…our ability to empathise must be able to be suspended , so that we indeed to terrible things to fellow humans …as that is what we have tended to do ..throughout history.
I think we have rituals/memes that do this .Dances..music…media ..dis-information…I believe we pro-actively need to suspend ‘ the humanity ‘ of the object of our terror..so that we can inflict productive amounts of terror upon another set of individuals .In essence ..a short cut around our mirror neurons.
Its a horrible thing to say in words….but I’m struck by how we always have a need to de-humanise people first ..before we can efficiently co-operate so that evil things can be committed against them.

Is mass Religion such a short-cut? ..and spirituality the opposite end of the empathy scale ( the side that tips towards more empathy and fewer short -cuts)

]]> By: Why it hurts to watch SAW « hypothetical thinking.http://brainblogger.com/2010/02/09/i-feel-your-pain-the-neural-basis-of-empathy/#comment-597966 Why it hurts to watch SAW « hypothetical thinking. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:17:40 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3854#comment-597966 [...] the full article here. Leave a [...] [...] the full article here. Leave a [...]

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