Is empathy rational?
By Elizabeth Dangerfield
Empathy is rational because it is part of human nature. Empathy is essential for human survival. It is hard wired into us. It helps us bond with our children and our friends, and strengthens our community ties. If we can show empathy, we can be trusted to help others when the going gets tough. Research shows that
people unconsciously mimic the actions and feelings of others through shared neural circuits. For example, brain scans show that when a person is in pain, certain brain regions activate, but, surprisingly, the same regions also activate when a person observes a loved one experiencing pain. Read the full article