Does Empathy Have A Dark Side?
It's good to feel empathy, right? Not always, according to a forthcoming book. Humans are empathetic beings, and we sometimes harm others, not out of a failure of empathy, but because of it.
empathy
What Makes A Leader?
Leaders make decisions for a group in the same way they make choices for themselves, a study suggests. They don't change their decision-making behavior, even when the welfare of others is at stake.
'When I Was Your Age' And Other Pitfalls Of Talking To Teens About Stress
Helping teenagers develop cognitive empathy, the ability to understand another person's perspective, can allow them to cope with stress better. But whether they accept help can be all in the phrasing.
No Ant Left Behind: Warrior Ants Carry Injured Comrades Home
Don't call it empathy, scientists say. These termite-eating ants only retrieve injured comrades on the way home from a hunt, not before. But the hurt ants do recover better at home — to fight again.
How Hermann Rorschach's 'Inkblots' Took On A Life Of Their Own
These days, you're more likely to come across the concept of a Rorschach test in a cultural context than a clinical one. In a new book, author Damion Searls traces the history of the famous inkblots.
Can Virtual Reality Make You More Empathetic?
Charities are using virtual reality to immerse people in the plight of refugees and others who need help. Researchers are studying whether it's more effective than other media. And there are skeptics.
They Brought Cookies: For A New Widow, Empathy Eases Death's Pain
Her husband died. Then the neighbors started showing up. They brought soup. Cookies. Tea. But what they really brought was empathy. And that made the pain bearable.
You Haven't Left The Building But Your Brain's On A Virtual Reality Trip
You can now experience the aftermath of Nepal's earthquake or get a sense of what it's like to be in a refugee camp without leaving home. Will that make you more likely to donate to a cause?
That's Not Fair! Crime And Punishment In A Preschooler's Mind
Children as young as 3 years old will step in to right the wrong if they see someone being mistreated, a study finds. But they aren't as keen as 5-year-olds to dole out punishment.