Tag Archives: Empathy

24Jul/26

How Empathy Became a Political Weapon

July 24, 2026PoliticsCompassion, Doug Wead, Elon Musk, Emotions, Empathy, George W. Bush, Joe Rogan, Moral psychology, Paul Bloom, Suicidal empathy, Trumpismadmin

The War on Feeling: How the American Right Reframed Empathy as a Vice

Fri, July 24 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Modern American conservative thought has increasingly shifted toward a vocal rejection of empathy, labeling the trait as a dangerous moral failing. Prominent right-wing authors and influencers argue that prioritizing emotional understanding leads to societal decline and prevents leaders from making difficult but vital decisions. This perspective is reinforced by a surge of best-selling books that categorize compassion as a “toxic” or even “suicidal” impulse for Western civilization. High-profile figures like Elon Musk have amplified these warnings, suggesting that cultural survival depends on abandoning soft-hearted policies. This ideological trend represents a stark departure from earlier iterations of Republicanism, which once embraced the concept of compassionate conservatism. By framing empathy as a threat to the nation, contemporary right-wing media effectively distances itself from its own political history. Continue reading →

18Jul/26

How Empathy Breaks Cognitive Confinement

July 18, 2026HealthcareAgeing, Barry Richards, Developmental disability, Diana, Diana Principle, Disability, Disneyland Paris, Empathy, Julie Bass, Kaz, London, Mental disorder, Mental health, naloxone, Paris, Psychology, Rachel, Recovery model, Richard, Samara, United Kingdom, Walesadmin

The Battle Against ‘Stigma’: Empathy as Activism

Sat, July 18 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — This theme of compassion is echoed in an overview of Princess Diana’s legacy, specifically her belief that personal happiness is invalid if it stems from the suffering of others. Her influence as a patron is further illustrated by Turning Point, a social care organization celebrating sixty years of service through an exhibition of symbolic objects that represent recovery and inclusion. Collectively, the texts document a shift toward person-centered care and the ongoing struggle to eliminate the social stigma surrounding addiction, disability, and mental illness. Together, they provide a multi-layered perspective on the progress of social welfare and the enduring power of empathy in public life. Continue reading →

27Mar/26

The Neuroscience of Doing Nothing: How Strategic Stillness Fuels Creative Genius

March 27, 2026BusinessArtificial general intelligence, Attention, Busy work, Chesley, Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, Cognition, Cognitive neuroscience, Consciousness, Continuous partial attention, Creativity, Daydreaming, Decision-making, Default mode network, Empathy, Executive functions, Mental processes, Microsoft, Neural circuitry, Neuropsychological assessment, Neuropsychology, Occupational burnout, Productivity, Psychology, Remote work, Rumination, Satya Nadella, United States, Workplace wellnessadmin

March 26, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Illusion of Busyness vs. The Power of Deep Work The modern workplace is plagued by “productivity theater” or “fauxductivity,” where employees prioritize visible activity over meaningful output. Research identifies this as “Dramaturgical Work Behavior” (DWB), where workers consciously perform tasks to look busy—such as sending late-night emails or constantly rearranging files—merely to signal compliance and protect their status. This is driven by organizations that reward “passive face time” and speed rather than actual results. To combat this, experts advocate for Deep Work: distraction-free concentration that pushes cognitive capabilities to their limit and produces true value. Transitioning away from shallow, performative tasks requires setting strict boundaries, implementing a “strategic no,” and embracing “career minimalism” or “slow business” to prioritize sustainable, high-quality output over frantic activity. Continue reading →

16Sep/25

Racism isn’t innate – here are five psychological stages that may lead to it

September 16, 2025SocialAbuse, Anxiety, Australia, Creative Commons, Emotions, Empathy, Evolutionary psychology, Human behavior, Identity, Internalized racism, Moral psychology, Pascal Boyer, Prejudice, Racism, Steve Taylor, United Kingdom, United States, Vicadmin

Steve Taylor, Leeds Beckett University

Research from Europe and Australia in recent years has found a rise in the number of people experiencing racism. Reports from the US and UK have indicated that most ethnic minority participants felt racism was getting worse. And a global study has found rising incidents of discrimination.

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17Oct/23

Watching movies could be good for your mental health

October 17, 2023FilmsAristotle, Couples therapy, Creative Commons, Emotion, Empathy, Interpersonal relationships, Jenny Hamilton, Limbic system, Moral psychology, Music therapy, Psychotherapy, SHUTTERSTOCK, Subjective experienceadmin

Jenny Hamilton, University of Lincoln

Many of us enjoy sitting down to watch a good film because of the way movies can make us feel. A sad film might help us release our emotions or a comedy might lift our mood. Movies can also offer a chance to connect with and explore our emotions in a safe way.

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11Oct/23

How loneliness changes the way our brains process the world

October 11, 2023Human InterestAnthropomorphism, Cognitive neuroscience, Cognitive science, Creative Commons, Emotions, Empathy, Interpersonal relationships, Loneliness, Perception, Philosophy of love, Robin Kramer, Scotland, SHUTTERSTOCK, Social cognition, Social connection, Social issues, United Statesadmin

Robin Kramer, University of Lincoln

If there’s one thing we as humans seem to have in common, it’s that most of us have felt lonely at one time or another. But is the pain that comes with feeling socially isolated simply a part of being human? Why does the world seem so different when we’re feeling lonely?

Recent research has begun to provide some answers. And it turns out that loneliness can affect your perception and cognition.

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13Feb/23

Psychopaths: why they’ve thrived through evolutionary history – and how that may change

February 13, 2023Human InterestArticles, Callous and unemotional traits, Creative Commons, Criminology, Empathy, Evolutionary psychology, Forensic psychology, Human behavior, Jonathan R Goodman, Moral psychology, Personality disorders, Psychology, Psychopathy, Psychopathy in the workplaceadmin

Jonathan R Goodman, University of Cambridge

When you start to notice them, psychopaths seem to be everywhere. This is especially true of people in powerful places. By one estimate, as many as 20% of business leaders have “clinically relevant levels” of psychopathic tendencies – despite the fact as little as 1% of the general population are considered psychopaths. Psychopaths are characterised by shallow emotions, a lack of empathy, immorality, anti-social behaviour and, importantly, deceptiveness.

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01Jul/22

Four ways to stop thinking the worst will happen when you’re stressed

July 1, 2022HealthcareArticles, Cognitive neuroscience, Creative Commons, Emotions, Empathy, Human behavior, Moral psychology, Patricia Riddell, Psychology, Psychopathy, SHUTTERSTOCK, The Art of Happinessche

Patricia Riddell, University of Reading

Imagine you have an interview for a new job tomorrow. Some people might think about what kind of questions they will be asked so that they can prepare, or imagine the interview going well. For others, the thought of an interview will cause them to toss and turn all night thinking of every worst case scenario possible – no matter how outlandish these may be. If you’re someone who has a tendency to do the latter, you are prone to catastrophising.

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