Morality and Empathy
I was doing some "research" this morning on Peter Petrelli and what makes him such a nice guy. Where does a person's empathy come from? Why do they feel it? Is it selective? What other emotions are commonly paired with empathy?
I came across this TEDtalk: Paul Zak: Trust, morality and oxycotin. It starts slow, but is very good. Oxycotin creates empathy. Fascinatingly, the things that *inhibit* oxycotin are primarily 1) improper nurturing, being the victim of abuse, especially relationship or sexual abuse; 2) high stress; 3) testosterone. Testosterone also increases a person's desire to punish other people for acting immoral or unempathetic. High trust of other people is also highly correlated with oxycotin.
At least anecdotally, that I've become more loving after getting out of my previous relationship. Now if I can only get shed of this high stress job!
I came across this TEDtalk: Paul Zak: Trust, morality and oxycotin. It starts slow, but is very good. Oxycotin creates empathy. Fascinatingly, the things that *inhibit* oxycotin are primarily 1) improper nurturing, being the victim of abuse, especially relationship or sexual abuse; 2) high stress; 3) testosterone. Testosterone also increases a person's desire to punish other people for acting immoral or unempathetic. High trust of other people is also highly correlated with oxycotin.
At least anecdotally, that I've become more loving after getting out of my previous relationship. Now if I can only get shed of this high stress job!