Lesson 1 – Empathy’s Cognitive Components
Empathy’s Cognitive Components
VIDEO REVIEW
- Empathic ability is a hard-wired potential and (like language) must be nurtured to develop beyond rudimentary levels.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.