Are We born empathetic?

I’d be a wealthy human if I got paid for every time someone told me they believe people are born empathetic

Thanks to some prominent names in history, we generally believe that empathy is a trait. A genetically determined characteristic that will forever remain the same. You’re either born empathetic or you’re not. End of story, I just am who I am!

Well, this is only party true. Some of us are ‘born’ more empathetic, but studies that have compared identical twins who were raised separately found that empathy levels differ depending on the type of people and behaviours they have been exposed to; growing up to be more or less empathetic than others

In addition to this, we are capable of deciding when to be more empathetic. For example, when we want to connect with someone, our empathy grows. When we’re around attractive or powerful individuals, we turn up our empathy and read others more clearly as a result. Empathy is a choice and it can be cultivated  

Sometimes empathy is actively turned down to protect ourselves from feeling too deeply into others pain. Keeping emotions under a lid when a colleague shares something painful in the office is an interesting example. It’s all linked to the choices we make about when we choose to turn our empathy taps on or off. It’s fascinating!

So, let’s at least agree that empathy is not a trait. We now know it can be cultivated and from this starting point we have something to work with