Lesson 1 – Empathy’s Cognitive Components

Empathy’s Cognitive Components

VIDEO REVIEW 

1. Empathic ability is a hard-wired potential and (like language) must be nurtured to develop beyond rudimentary levels.
2. Empathic “ability” starts in childhood. The experience of empathic attunement creates neural representations in the child’s brain that allows the developmental process of empathy to strengthen and unfold naturally.
3. Empathic ability coincides with normal cognitive development as the human mind/brain becomes adept at its’ primary function – prediction, anticipation and adaptation in the physical and psychological realms.
4. Predicting and adapting to human behavior and intentions is highly complex. While it begins with hard-wired mirror neurons and embodied simulation, it also requires cognitive psychological attunement and insight.