How are we feeling today Psychologists? Intro: 1.Empathy- What is it? 2.Can we teach it? 3.Why do we need it? EQ: What is Empathy and what conditions encourage it?

What is Empathy? Empathy is the experience of understanding another person's condition from their perspective. You place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling. Empathy is known to increase pro-social (helping) behaviors. American culture might be socializing people into becoming more individualistic rather than empathic, research has uncovered the existence of "mirror neurons," which react to emotions expressed by others and then reproduce them.

Why do we need Empathy? Brainstorm as many reasons as you can why empathy is an important skill to develop.

Economic Inequality and Empathy After watching the video answer these questions in your group: 1.Surprises or Suspicions confirmed? 2.Societal implications for these findings? 3.Political and or policy implications? 4.How might we address these issues? 5.How does this all fit in with the idea of privilege?

Lets look at it from the opposite side In your group answer the following questions: 1.Surprises and or suspicions confirmed by this study? 2.Political/Social implications of this study? 3.Why do you think people behave this way? 4.How can we encourage people to find the greatest rewards from giving to others?

Fiction Help Us Function. Read the article on how high fiction helps us better understand each other and empathize. Answer the questions on the last page. Be prepared to discuss with the class.

Culture of Entitlement Inalienable Rights Capitalism – Social Darwinism Move away from the binary of deserve and don’t deserve to a recognition of the path one took to where they are…. We are being called ‘The Entitlement Generation’ or the ME Generation. Where do you think that perception comes from? Is there any truth to the title?

Are Emotionally Intelligent People Nicer? First, in your groups, go to the bottom of the second page and define each of the terms. First try and figure it out as a group, second use your phones to look up definitions, all definitions must be written in as simple terms as possible. Second, read the study, look at the table and chart and answer the questions. Lastly, discuss your answers to each question with your group members. Raise your hand with any remaining questions so we can present them to the class.

Key Question: 1.Why do you think emotional intelligence and the ability to understand and empathize with the experiences of others’ doesn’t necessarily lead to prosocial/compassionate behavior? 2. With this understanding, if we want to create a more compassionate world what do we need to do?

Happy Block Day Psychologists Today: 1.Video – Empathy Experiments 2.Discussion 3.Reflection Q. 4.If time- NPR – Lack of Empathy leads to Cruelty EQ: Why do people commit atrocities? How can empathy change they way people interact?

“Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered the most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” -Haile Selassie The Last Emperor of Ethiopia

-Experiments- How are regular people, placed in positions of power, capable of horrific acts? How can regular people commit atrocities like the Holocaust, The Armenian Genocide, Darfur and many others throughout history. As we watch the video think about how the experiments relate to the following: – Obedience – Conformity – Inaction – Dehumanization – Anonymity

Reflection – Exit Thoughts Write one question that todays video or discussion raised for you. Be thoughtful and introspective about this. Keep in mind, the more thought you put into this class the more you will get out of it. Those of you who are passive receivers of information and instruction, who see yourselves as unlikely to do bad things, you are the MOST likely to defer to authority in times of crisis…

The Lucifer Effect The staple is on the wrong side so pay attention to page numbers…. Everyone Reads the sections marked EVERYONE Each person in your group reads one section either P1, P2, P3, P4 or P5. Each person much answer the following questions to explain their section to their group. 1.What was the experiment? 2.What were the results? 3.Which of the following factors contributed to people’s actions: – Obedience – Conformity – Inaction – Dehumanization – Anonymity

Acts of Kindness Share the little act of kindness you did this week with your group members Once someone in your group has shared something nice they did for someone else this week, thank them for making the world a better place. Conversation Example: Student A: Yesterday I helped return an old man’s shopping cart at the grocery store. Students B,C,D: Thank You for making the world a better place!

TGIF! Today: 1.Lack of Empathy Cruelty 2.Empathy Challenge 3.Reflection EQ: What is the tendency of human nature? Why is empathy important?

Failures in Human Empathy So what does this have to do with empathy? 1.Did people not feel empathy during the milligram experiment? What is your evidence of this? 2.What do you think is the most central factor that causes us as humans to act a certain way towards others? – Obedience – Conformity – Inaction – Dehumanization – Anonymity – Something else…

Empathy Challenge Work in teams of two at your table. Select one of the two options below. 1.Go online and find an image that you believe will illicit the strongest emotions from your classmates. Explain why you selected the image and how you believe it will make your classmates feel. Why do you consider this image to be so powerful. 1.With your team-mate create a work of flash fiction. (A story with 3 lines or less). Your goal is to make your classmates experience as intense an emotion as possible through you writing. 1.EX: For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Empathy Challenge cont. Leave your picture up on your computer or your flash fiction story on your desk. Walk around and look at what other people have done. Note which one causes you the most strong emotional reaction. When you get back to your table write up a short paragraph explaining which two you found the most moving and how they affected you.

Random Act of Kindness Write down your random act of kindness that you preformed for someone this week. Make it pretty and colorful and big. Put your name in pencil on the back. If you DIDN’T preform a random act of kindness say why, ex. you forgot, you didn’t care to, you didn’t find a good opportunity. This is also a test of your honesty…..

Now we’re going to vote…. Select the person in your group whom you think did the kindest act. If no one in your group preformed an act of kindness talk about why…. If you were voted ‘kindest person’ in your group- please come see me.