EVOLUTIONARY BASIS

OF EMPATHY
DR. SHIVANI BHAMBRI
EMPATHY IS
• SEEING WITH THE EYES OF ANOTHER.
• LISTENING WITH THE EARS OF ANOTHER
• AND FEELING WITH THE HEART OF ANOTHER
• We tend to think of empathy as a uniquely human trait. But it’s something apes and
other animals demonstrate as well, says primatologist Frans de Waal. He shows how
our evolutionary history suggests a deep-rooted habit for feeling the emotions of
others.
Certainly! Imagine you're sitting with a close friend who's going through a tough time.
They just received some disappointing news and are feeling really down. As you
empathize with them, you might mirror their feelings to show that you understand and
care about their situation. You might furrow your brow, nod sympathetically, and say
something like, "I can imagine how difficult that must be for you. I'm here for you."
In this example, your friend's difficulty affects you emotionally. Even though you're
not directly experiencing what they're going through, you're able to connect with them
on an emotional level, expressing your support and understanding
• In simpler terms, empathy is something that comes naturally to most
people. It means being able to understand and share the feelings of
others. When someone lacks empathy, it means they have difficulty
understanding or caring about how others feel. This can be concerning
to us because empathy helps us connect with and relate to others.
• When we watch movies, we often feel deeply connected to the
characters. We feel sad when a huge ship they're on sinks, and we feel
happy when they reunite with someone they've been separated from for
a long time. It's like we are experiencing their emotions and situations
as if we were in their shoes.
• We are so used to empathy that we take it for granted, yet it is essential
to human society as we know it. Our morality depends on it.
• Even Adam Smith, who is considered the father of economics and known for highlighting
self-interest as a crucial aspect of human economies, recognized that self-interest and
empathy are not conflicting concepts. Empathy allows us to connect with others, initially on
an emotional level and later in life by understanding their circumstances.

• This ability likely developed because it served our ancestors' survival in two important ways.
• Firstly, like all mammals, we have a natural sensitivity towards the needs of our own
offspring.
• Secondly, Cooperation is vital for our species' success, as we flourish when we are
supported by capable and well-being individuals within our social circles. It is in our best
interest to take care of others within our group, as it ultimately benefits our own well-being
and advancement.
Animal empathy
• It is hard to imagine that empathy, a characteristic so basic to the human species that it
emerges early in life and is accompanied by strong physiological reactions came into
existence only when our lineage split off from that of the apes.
• It must be far older than that.
Examples of empathy in other animals would suggest a long evolutionary history to this
capacity in humans.
• Over the last several decades, we’ve seen increasing evidence of empathy in other
species.
• One piece of evidence came unintentionally out of a study on human development.
• a research psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health, visited people’s
homes to find out how young children respond to family members’ emotions.
• She instructed people to pretend to sob, cry, or choke, and found that some household
pets seemed as worried as the children were by the feigned distress of the family
members. The pets hovered nearby and put their heads in their owners’ laps.
• But perhaps the most compelling evidence for the strength of animal
empathy came from a group of psychiatrists
• The researchers reported in 1964 that rhesus monkeys refused to pull a
chain that delivered food to themselves if doing so gave a shock to a
companion.
• One monkey stopped pulling the chain for 12 days after witnessing
another monkey receive a shock.
• Those primates were literally starving themselves to avoid shocking
another animal.
• These are all examples we can see that how evolution plays an
important role in terms of empathy.
• It is not a newer thing. It came into existence long time back from our
ancestors.
• It’s certainly an acquired skill, but there’s plenty of proof that empathy
has been part of the human condition for some time. The evolution of
empathy can be traced back to long before homo sapiens walked the
Earth.
• Empathy enabled us to work together and cooperate, in part leading to
our survival as a species.
• Empathy became more than just a feeling; it was a necessity. Those
same bonds that brought primitive species together to collaborate, and
to access food, shelter, and care are still very much relevant today.
Empathy: Inherent? Learned then Lost?

• So, we’re not exactly born with empathy, although we, as a species, may be
predisposed to be a cooperative one. We learn empathy from a young age.
• It’s not a genetic trait, even though it’s part of our evolution. Our ancestors
obviously weren’t born with the desire to be empathetic. They learned it as
well and continued expressing it because it kept them alive longer.

TO CONCLUDE: EMPATHY IS COMMUNICATING THAT INCREDIBLY

HEALING MESSAGE OF“YOU ARE NOT ALONE”
‘BRENE BROWN’