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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Is Australia losing its empathy? | Is Australia losing its empathy? |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| We’ve all done it. We walk down the street | We’ve all done it. We walk down the street |
| and see a homeless guy asking for some small change and we stride straight past | and see a homeless guy asking for some small change and we stride straight past |
| avoiding his eye. Or we read about children in Syria being maimed and tortured and quickly | avoiding his eye. Or we read about children in Syria being maimed and tortured and quickly |
| flick over the page without a second of thought, continuing to munch on our | flick over the page without a second of thought, continuing to munch on our |
| toast. | toast. |
| These kinds of empathy failures are pretty | These kinds of empathy failures are pretty |
| normal. Although the neuroscientists now tell us that 98% of people have the | normal. Although the neuroscientists now tell us that 98% of people have the |
| ability to empathise, the reality is that we lead busy, stressful lives, and | ability to empathise, the reality is that we lead busy, stressful lives, and |
| often feel we don’t have the time or energy to step into | often feel we don’t have the time or energy to step into |
| other people’s shoes, look at the world from their perspective – and give them | other people’s shoes, look at the world from their perspective – and give them |
| some support. In other words, we fail to bring our neural circuitry to life, so | some support. In other words, we fail to bring our neural circuitry to life, so |
| our empathic potential lies dormant. | our empathic potential lies dormant. |
| But something more serious is going on: | But something more serious is going on: |
| Australia, the lucky country, is losing its empathy. A recent report based on a | Australia, the lucky country, is losing its empathy. A recent report based on a |
| national survey by the Scanlon | national survey by the Scanlon |
| Foundation highlights some powerful statistics: | Foundation highlights some powerful statistics: |
| What are figures like these telling us? Without | What are figures like these telling us? Without |
| anyone really noticing, communities are fracturing and social cohesion being eroded. | anyone really noticing, communities are fracturing and social cohesion being eroded. |
| More and more people are caught up in a culture of hyper-individualism where | More and more people are caught up in a culture of hyper-individualism where |
| the question “what’s in it for me?” dominates their minds. They are turning | the question “what’s in it for me?” dominates their minds. They are turning |
| their backs on socially marginalised groups such as asylum seekers and becoming | their backs on socially marginalised groups such as asylum seekers and becoming |
| less willing to trust others, or listen to the views of people whose beliefs | less willing to trust others, or listen to the views of people whose beliefs |
| differ from their own – whether it’s on issues such as climate change or private | differ from their own – whether it’s on issues such as climate change or private |
| schools. The big picture is clear: there’s a growing empathy deficit that is | schools. The big picture is clear: there’s a growing empathy deficit that is |
| creating new levels of social division. | creating new levels of social division. |
| In some ways | In some ways |
| these attitudes are surprising. You might expect them in a country that is | these attitudes are surprising. You might expect them in a country that is |
| suffering chronic economic recession, where people scapegoat immigrants and | suffering chronic economic recession, where people scapegoat immigrants and |
| blame them for their economic woes. But Australia hardly qualifies on these | blame them for their economic woes. But Australia hardly qualifies on these |
| grounds, having done better than most countries to survive the repercussions of | grounds, having done better than most countries to survive the repercussions of |
| the global financial meltdown in 2008. | the global financial meltdown in 2008. |
| It’s also a | It’s also a |
| little strange for a nation that prides itself on its multiculturalism (of | little strange for a nation that prides itself on its multiculturalism (of |
| which I am a product, with a mixed heritage including Polish, Croatian, | which I am a product, with a mixed heritage including Polish, Croatian, |
| Romanian and Scottish). In fact, 84% of respondents in the Scanlon study said | Romanian and Scottish). In fact, 84% of respondents in the Scanlon study said |
| they thought multiculturalism had been good for the country, and 70% believed | they thought multiculturalism had been good for the country, and 70% believed |
| it benefited the nation economically. | it benefited the nation economically. |
| On the other | On the other |
| hand, it’s clear the prevalent political culture is hardly conducive to | hand, it’s clear the prevalent political culture is hardly conducive to |
| creating empathy, even if the past decade has seen growing recognition of the | creating empathy, even if the past decade has seen growing recognition of the |
| perspectives and rights of Indigenous Australians. Just think how much | perspectives and rights of Indigenous Australians. Just think how much |
| stereotyping remains a staple of the contemporary political scene. Politicians | stereotyping remains a staple of the contemporary political scene. Politicians |
| from across the spectrum frequently refer to asylum seekers as “illegals” – Tony Abbott’s government decreed that they should be described as such in all official correspondence – | from across the spectrum frequently refer to asylum seekers as “illegals” – Tony Abbott’s government decreed that they should be described as such in all official correspondence – |
| despite the Refugee Council of Australia and the United Nations pointing out | despite the Refugee Council of Australia and the United Nations pointing out |
| that it is an inaccurate term since there is nothing illegal about seeking | that it is an inaccurate term since there is nothing illegal about seeking |
| asylum. | asylum. |
| “If you wanted to disenfranchise refugees, | “If you wanted to disenfranchise refugees, |
| and leave the public thinking they have no rights, then call them ‘illegal’ | and leave the public thinking they have no rights, then call them ‘illegal’ |
| over and over again,” the former | over and over again,” the former |
| Paul Keating speechwriter Don Watson told me. Politicians, he says, do | Paul Keating speechwriter Don Watson told me. Politicians, he says, do |
| everything they can to “keep any kind of empathy at bay”, finding language that “dulls the instinct to ask ‘What if that were me and my children in one of | everything they can to “keep any kind of empathy at bay”, finding language that “dulls the instinct to ask ‘What if that were me and my children in one of |
| those boats, or in one of those detention centres?’” Thomas | those boats, or in one of those detention centres?’” Thomas |
| Keneally – author of the empathic bestseller Schindler’s Ark – has made similar remarks, commenting on the “racial hysteria” politicians have whipped up against | Keneally – author of the empathic bestseller Schindler’s Ark – has made similar remarks, commenting on the “racial hysteria” politicians have whipped up against |
| asylum seekers. | asylum seekers. |
| It is this | It is this |
| kind of stereotyping, where we fail to see the real individuals behind the | kind of stereotyping, where we fail to see the real individuals behind the |
| labels we impose on them, that is at the root of the empathy crisis. | labels we impose on them, that is at the root of the empathy crisis. |
| This empathy decline | This empathy decline |
| is not, however, Australia’s alone. Across the western world there is evidence | is not, however, Australia’s alone. Across the western world there is evidence |
| of a growing empathy deficit. A study at the University of Michigan revealed empathy levels in the United States have dropped 48% over the past 40 | of a growing empathy deficit. A study at the University of Michigan revealed empathy levels in the United States have dropped 48% over the past 40 |
| years, with the steepest fall happening over the last decade. This means that | years, with the steepest fall happening over the last decade. This means that |
| fewer and fewer people are making the effort to extend their moral concern | fewer and fewer people are making the effort to extend their moral concern |
| towards strangers, or to take into account the feelings and perspectives of | towards strangers, or to take into account the feelings and perspectives of |
| others. In the UK, the empathy deficit is reflected in a chronic | others. In the UK, the empathy deficit is reflected in a chronic |
| decline of social trust. In 1959 60% of people thought most other people could | decline of social trust. In 1959 60% of people thought most other people could |
| be trusted. That figure has now halved. A creeping, self-centred individualism | be trusted. That figure has now halved. A creeping, self-centred individualism |
| has become dominant in public culture. | has become dominant in public culture. |
| It all | It all |
| sounds a bit depressing. But there’s good news. There is a quiet revolution of | sounds a bit depressing. But there’s good news. There is a quiet revolution of |
| empathic thinking and social action going on around the globe. With a little | empathic thinking and social action going on around the globe. With a little |
| imagination, Australians could learn to harness the power of empathy to shift | imagination, Australians could learn to harness the power of empathy to shift |
| the contours of society. So what does this empathy revolution look like? | the contours of society. So what does this empathy revolution look like? |
| Intriguingly, | Intriguingly, |
| empathy is a more popular concept today than at any moment in its history. It’s | empathy is a more popular concept today than at any moment in its history. It’s |
| on the lips of everyone from the Dalai Lama to Barack Obama, from business gurus | on the lips of everyone from the Dalai Lama to Barack Obama, from business gurus |
| to happiness experts. Internet searches for the word “empathy” have more than doubled in frequency in the past ten years. | to happiness experts. Internet searches for the word “empathy” have more than doubled in frequency in the past ten years. |
| A major | A major |
| reason for this surge of interest is because of extraordinary new insights into | reason for this surge of interest is because of extraordinary new insights into |
| the science of empathy. For more than three centuries we’ve been fed a dangerous | the science of empathy. For more than three centuries we’ve been fed a dangerous |
| piece of propaganda, which is that human beings are essentially selfish, | piece of propaganda, which is that human beings are essentially selfish, |
| individualistic creatures. But the scientific consensus has shifted in the last | individualistic creatures. But the scientific consensus has shifted in the last |
| decade. We are also Homo empathicus: | decade. We are also Homo empathicus: |
| alongside our selfish inner drives is a more empathic, co-operative self. | alongside our selfish inner drives is a more empathic, co-operative self. |
| Neuroscientists | Neuroscientists |
| have discovered that almost all of us (exceptions include psychopaths) have a | have discovered that almost all of us (exceptions include psychopaths) have a |
| ten-section “empathy-circuit” wired into our brains. Damage part of it and you | ten-section “empathy-circuit” wired into our brains. Damage part of it and you |
| may be unable to recognise fear or other emotions on someone’s face. | may be unable to recognise fear or other emotions on someone’s face. |
| Evolutionary biologists have shown this co-operative, empathic self is a | Evolutionary biologists have shown this co-operative, empathic self is a |
| trait we share with our primate cousins, such as the hippie-like bonobo chimp. | trait we share with our primate cousins, such as the hippie-like bonobo chimp. |
| And psychologists have demonstrated that the empathic ability to step into | And psychologists have demonstrated that the empathic ability to step into |
| another’s shoes and appreciate that their viewpoint may differ from our own | another’s shoes and appreciate that their viewpoint may differ from our own |
| develops in most children by the age of about two. | develops in most children by the age of about two. |
| The problem | The problem |
| is that we’re still not very skilled at tapping into our full empathic | is that we’re still not very skilled at tapping into our full empathic |
| potential. But luckily empathy can be learned, like learning to ride a bike or | potential. But luckily empathy can be learned, like learning to ride a bike or |
| drive a car. The best place to start is at school. I believe every child should | drive a car. The best place to start is at school. I believe every child should |
| have the right to take part in programmes such as Roots of Empathy, the world’s most successful empathy | have the right to take part in programmes such as Roots of Empathy, the world’s most successful empathy |
| teaching initiative. Having started in Canada, it has now spread to countries such | teaching initiative. Having started in Canada, it has now spread to countries such |
| as New Zealand and Germany, and more than half a million children have done it. How | as New Zealand and Germany, and more than half a million children have done it. How |
| does it work? The teacher is a baby. | does it work? The teacher is a baby. |
| True. A class | True. A class |
| of kids adopts a baby for the year, who visits every few weeks with a parent | of kids adopts a baby for the year, who visits every few weeks with a parent |
| and an instructor from the programme. The children sit around the baby and | and an instructor from the programme. The children sit around the baby and |
| discuss things such as: why’s the baby crying? Why is the baby laughing? What | discuss things such as: why’s the baby crying? Why is the baby laughing? What |
| might she be feeling? This effort to step into the baby’s shoes is then | might she be feeling? This effort to step into the baby’s shoes is then |
| extended outwards. What’s it like to be bullied in the playground, or to be | extended outwards. What’s it like to be bullied in the playground, or to be |
| made fun of if you’re in a wheelchair? The results are remarkable. A study in Scotland showed the programme boosted | made fun of if you’re in a wheelchair? The results are remarkable. A study in Scotland showed the programme boosted |
| co-operative behaviour in 55% of pupils, decreased bullying and increased | co-operative behaviour in 55% of pupils, decreased bullying and increased |
| academic attainment. Roots of Empathy has been piloted in Western Australia. | academic attainment. Roots of Empathy has been piloted in Western Australia. |
| It’s now time to roll it out across the nation’s classrooms. | It’s now time to roll it out across the nation’s classrooms. |
| But we can’t | But we can’t |
| wait 20 years for a new generation of empathic citizens to emerge. We also | wait 20 years for a new generation of empathic citizens to emerge. We also |
| need to work on ourselves. On a personal | need to work on ourselves. On a personal |
| level, try having a conversation with a stranger at least once a week. Get beyond superficial chatter and talk about the stuff that really | level, try having a conversation with a stranger at least once a week. Get beyond superficial chatter and talk about the stuff that really |
| matters in life – love, family, death or politics. Conversations with strangers | matters in life – love, family, death or politics. Conversations with strangers |
| are one of the best ways to overcome our prejudices and assumptions about | are one of the best ways to overcome our prejudices and assumptions about |
| others, and can cure us of making snap stereotyped judgements about people | others, and can cure us of making snap stereotyped judgements about people |
| based on appearance or accent. | based on appearance or accent. |
| On the | On the |
| political level, we need to generate these kinds of conversations on a mass | political level, we need to generate these kinds of conversations on a mass |
| scale. One inspiring organisation that does this is the Parents | scale. One inspiring organisation that does this is the Parents |
| Circle, which | Circle, which |
| creates grassroots dialogues between Israelis and Palestinians. One of their | creates grassroots dialogues between Israelis and Palestinians. One of their |
| most powerful projects was the Hello Peace phone line. Any Israeli citizen | most powerful projects was the Hello Peace phone line. Any Israeli citizen |
| could call a free phone number and talk to a Palestinian stranger for up to | could call a free phone number and talk to a Palestinian stranger for up to |
| half an hour, and Palestinians could similarly call Israelis. In its first five | half an hour, and Palestinians could similarly call Israelis. In its first five |
| years of operation, more than a million calls were made. | years of operation, more than a million calls were made. |
| Just imagine | Just imagine |
| if there were similar phone lines (or online video dialogue projects) across Australia, | if there were similar phone lines (or online video dialogue projects) across Australia, |
| which created conversations between climate change activists and climate change | which created conversations between climate change activists and climate change |
| sceptics, between anti-immigrant advocates and new immigrants themselves, | sceptics, between anti-immigrant advocates and new immigrants themselves, |
| between bombastic politicians and their constituents who feel voiceless; | between bombastic politicians and their constituents who feel voiceless; |
| between rich and poor, young and old. It would be the beginning of an empathy | between rich and poor, young and old. It would be the beginning of an empathy |
| revolution. Not an old-fashioned revolution of new laws or policies, but | revolution. Not an old-fashioned revolution of new laws or policies, but |
| something much more radical: a revolution of human relationships. | something much more radical: a revolution of human relationships. |
| Roman | Roman |
| Krznaric’s new | |
| book is Empathy: A Handbook for Revolution. | book is Empathy: A Handbook for Revolution. |