Empathy

LastyearresearchersfromtheUniversityofMichiganreportedthatempathytheabilitytounderstandotherpeopleamongcollegestudentshaddroppedsharplyoverthepast10years.__71__Todaypeoplespendmoretimealoneandarelesslikelytojoingroupsandclubs.

JenniferFreedaco-directorofateenprogramhasanotherexplanation.TurnontheTVandyou’reshoweredwithnewsandrealityshowsfullofpeoplefightingcompetingandgenerallytreatingoneanotherwithnorespect.__72__

Therearegoodreasonsnottofollowthosebadexamples.Humansaresociallyrelatedbynature.__73__Researchershavealsofoundthatempatheticteenagersaremorelikelytohavehighself-respect.Besidesempathycanbeacureforlonelinesssadnessanxietyandfear.

Empathyisalsoanindicationofagoodleader.InfactFreedsaysmanytopcompaniesreportthatempathyisoneofthemostimportantthingstheylookforinnewmanagers.__74__“Academicsareimportant.Butifyoudon’thaveemotionalintelligenceyouwon’tbeassuccessfulinworkorinyourlovelife”shesays.

What’sthebestwaytoupyourEQ(情商)?Forstartersletdownyourguardandreallylistentoothers.__75__

Toreallydevelopempathyyou’dbettervolunteeratanursinghomeorahospitaljoinacluborateamthathasadiversemembershiphavea“sharingcircle”withyourfamilyorspendtimecaringforpetsatananimalshelter.

A. Everyoneisdifferentandlevelsofempathydifferfrompersontoperson.

B. Havingrelationshipswithotherpeopleisanimportantpartofbeinghuman—andhavingempathyisdecisivetothoserelationships.

C. Humanslearnbyexample—andmostoftheexamplesonitareanythingbutempathetic.

D. “Onedoesn’tdevelopempathybyhavingalotofopinionsanddoingalotoftalking”Freedsays.

E. Empathyisamatteroflearninghowtounderstandsomeoneelse—bothwhattheythinkandhowtheyfeel.

F. Goodsocialskills—includingempathy—areakindof“emotionalintelligence”thatwillhelpyousucceedinmanyareasoflife.

G．Thatcouldbebecausesomanypeoplehavereplacedfacetimewithscreentimetheresearcherssaid.