The morning Chris Sampson performed his extraordinary act of compassion began in ordinary fashion, as such mornings usually do. It was an April weekday, rush hour in Edmonton’s Churchill LRT station, a drowsy crowd gathered on the platform. Mr. Sampson, a 27-year-old college student in the second year of an More
Observing someone else in anguish can evoke a deep sense of distress and sadness — almost as if it’s happening to us. APS Fellow Ying-yi Hong and other scientists identify some of the regions of the brain responsible for this sense of interconnectedness. More
The shocking behavior of high-profile men now embroiled in sexual harassment scandals may be explained in part from psychological studies showing a link between power and a dampened capacity for empathy. More
These days, we’re awash in friendship. Apps such as Facebook and Instagram allow us to keep up with third-grade pals, colleagues from old jobs and vast numbers of other people. But many “friends” on social media represent superficial connections, lacking the support and strength of closer bonds. You might be More
The Washington Post: Your husband was just passed over for a promotion, and he’s depressed. Your friend’s breast cancer has returned. As a supportive spouse and friend, you feel their pain. Growing research suggests there’s a cost to all that caring. Empathy — the ability to tune into and share More
The New York Times: To his teachers at Ridgeway High School in Memphis, Jason Okonofua was a handful. During class, his mind drifted and he would lose the thread of the lesson. He slouched at his desk and dozed off. Today Jason Okonofua is a newly minted psychology professor at More
