What the world needs now is . . .

How would you complete the sentence? At a moment in our history so rife with fear, conflict, and suffering, “empathy” might be a leading candidate. But what is empathy, exactly? Is it an innate human experience, or a skill that can learned? And how can science shed light on such an abstract and elusive concept? Jocelyn and Bradley are joined this week by cognitive psychologist Dr. John Kiat, who describes his research into social cognition and shares his perspective on the role of empathy in navigating our current contentious social and political climate, from wearing masks to confronting systemic racism. The friends also discuss the value of the social sciences more generally, and how neuroscience trumped physics in John’s quest to answer the ultimate questions of our existence, which has shaped his science journey.

You can learn more about John’s amazing work at https://www.johnkiat.com/ and at the links below:

“What’s in a name? Monikers alter empathy in the brain”: https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/whats-in-a-name-monikers-alter-empathy-in-the-brain/

“Study shows how brain anticipates social exclusion”: https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/study-shows-how-brain-anticipates-social-exclusion/

UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain: https://mindbrain.ucdavis.edu/

Susan Lanzoni, “A Short History of Empathy”: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/10/a-short-history-of-empathy/409912/

Scott Barry Kaufman, “What Would Happen If Everyone Truly Believed Everything Is One?”: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/what-would-happen-if-everyone-truly-believed-everything-is-one/

Paul Bloom, Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion: https://www.amazon.com/Against-Empathy-Case-Rational-Compassion/dp/0062339338

Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search For Meaning: https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X

Robert Sapolsky, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Zebras-Dont-Ulcers-Third/dp/0805073698