Is empathy a learned behavior or does it exist in all of us?

Answer 1

a learned behavior

Answer 2

Probably learned from experience. Some seriously disbursed people do not have empathy and it was probably learned. I do believe, however, that everyone has an intuitive understanding of right and wrong. Maybe not; maybe that is learned as well.
It is likely that empathy is learned before the child can talk or conceptualize verbally, thus, think. It becomes a kind of body thing.

Answer 3

Empathy exists in everyone, however it the women who practice it more than men, due partly to the stereotypical roles played by emerging males and females. Women are taught to express empathy, while men repress such feelings.

Answer 4

HATRED is a learned behavior. If you were to watch 3 year olds at the beach, or at a playground, or in any such social situation without adults interfering, then they don't care about anything other than "is s/he fun to play with?". If they get mad, then one might push the other, and the rest of the kids around will start to "mother" the hurt child if s/he cries. IT is only through social interaction do people learn to hate, and to join in the tormenting of others.

Answer 5

I believe people have empathy built into our wild animal traits, but i know that diferent people have different levels of empathy. I do believe that this is part of our built in property in our brain. Think about it... Do you know anyone... ANYONE... who as a child loved animals that now does not? empathy is being able to think about something outside of ourselves... like taking care of an animal. Animal lovers are born animal lovers and usually die as animal lovers. people who dont care for animals may create a closeness with particular animals that they have become familiar with, but they wont go out of their way to comunicate with an animal they dont know.

That is how i see empathy. I have more than my share which can cause problems too.


Good question.

:)

Answer 6

It exists in all of us from birth and is part of our blueprint as human beings. The problem though is that almost from birth and as children grow numerous facets of family, society and life both teach most people to ignor it and/or view it as something negative in us.... as a weakness.

When it does surface on its own.... (if one feels bad about a pet dying), we're taught as children most often that "oh it'll be ok fluffy went to heaven blah blah blah" plus theres always another "fluffy" waiting in the wings. So it looses it value, purpose and meaning AND the things which its supposed to be helping us cope with in a natural way is mutated and replaced by man made concepts and ideals.

Answer 7

i feel that empathy exists in all of us - although seeing others be sensitive or sympathetic in situations definitely influences our own behaviors - i think it still comes down to the individual and their own take on what is occurring

Answer 8

I have seen tiny children show empathy for other children so I think it comes naturally and should be encouraged.

Answer 9

i thnk u r either born with or not. take me, im VERY empathetic, i feel almost as much pain or sorrow that its spooky. my daughter, totally opisit, she could care less about the ppl w/have mind numbing troubles. her attitude it, its their own fault, let them deal w/it. i try 2 help her reailize that itS wrong 2 have no emotions, other than apathy., 4 these ppl. she doesnt get it. she s 31 now,& im still working on what is probaby a lost cause. thats y i say u have 2 b born w/ it.

Answer 10

I think it is learned. I know a few adults that were abandoned by their parent(s) at a young age. They forbid themselves to feel any emotion that may portray in their minds that they are week.
About the only emotion they feel is anger or indifference..
They also buy a lot of things to find one that will bring them happiness.