Empathy Gym

Imagine-
“It’s 2 pm in Rail Sadan. Lunch break. You are talking to your colleague across the table. Smiling and happy.
_His phone rings. He picks up.
_Suddenly his face cringes. Something terrible has happened on otherside. He breaks down, almost cries.”

What will happen to you ?

Psychologist have observed three stages that you can feel together or separately.

Stage 1. You also get upset. Your face almost mirrors his face. – Emotional Empathy.

Stage 2. You will try to find out what exactly happened to your colleague.- Cognitive Empathy.

Stage 3. You have an urge to solve his problem. You’re *concerned.* If you’ve the power, you will solve his problem immediately.
– Empathic Concern or *Compassion*

Interestingly all these 3 reactions happen simultaneously but in three different regions in your brain. They are as far as Delhi is from Mumbai and Chennai.

A Psychopath while stabbing his victim very well understands the pain he is inflicting. He has Cognitive part but lacks the Emotional component of feeling the pain. He doesn’t stop.

A  small kid doesn’t understand when his mother cries and starts crying. Emotional empathy minus Cognitive.
*Autistics* are like them.

A *mother* cringes when the baby in her bosom is given an injection. Both Emotional and Cognitive present. Emotions overpower cognition. She understands it’s good for her child, yet can’t stop feeling the pain.

We possess all the three components but in different proportions. Like 3 different muscles on your arm which work together to lift your hand. Psychiatrists say you can improve any of the component by regular practice. Just like you can do to your biceps or triceps or both of them.

Time to work at your Empathy Gym.