Empathy, the capacity to recognize or understand another's state of mind or emotion often characterized as the ability to "put oneself into another's shoes". It is also described metaphorically as an emotional kind of resonance or mirroring.
The study conducted by the researchers at the University of Chicago, used the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans to scale their responses on seeing others in to pain.
17 children (nine girls and eight boys) aged between 7 and 12 were shown animations of people experiencing pain, either received accidentally or inflicted intentionally.
The animations typically ranged from something accidentally slipping from someone’s’ hands to someone intentionally stepping over someone’s foot, all situations causing pain.
While undergoing Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans, children too showed similar brain activity as adults.
In situations were pain was accidental, the brain activity in the areas involved in pain processing sparked, while upon seeing situations where pain was intentional, regions of the brain involved in social interaction and moral reasoning also lit-up suggesting that the children realized the person was being wrongly treated.
"This study is the first to examine in young children both the neural response to pain in others and the impact of someone causing pain to someone else," said Jean Decety, Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Chicago.
Researchers conclude that the ‘empathy’ was not entirely the product of nurturing or good parenting; instead kids are born with it. Studying empathy in children could explain bullying or other types of anti-social behavior, researchers hope.
New Delhi, November 18 -- Since its outbreak in June this year, the H1N1 influenza has taken a widespread toll. With four more H1N1 deaths in India, the toll goes up to 530, as per an official statement.
We seeks happiness even as it continues to elude many of us. However, the fact is that if we focus our attention on other things and not strive for happiness itself, we will experience this emotion more often.
You have just met your Mr. Right and with all your womanly intuition you feel that he is the one you have been waiting for. You are excited, can`t stop smiling and your cheeks turn red the moment he enters.
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