Human Brains Are Hardwired for Empathy, Friendship - Polidicks

[url]http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130822085804.htm[/url] [IMG]http://images.sciencedaily.com/2013/08/130822085804.jpg?1377180257[/IMG] [QUOTE][B]Perhaps one of the most defining features of humanity is our capacity for empathy -- the ability to put ourselves in others' shoes. A new University of Virginia study strongly suggests that we are hardwired to empathize because we closely associate people who are close to us -- friends, spouses, lovers -- with our very selves.[/B] "Our self comes to include the people we feel close to," Coan said. In other words, our self-identity is largely based on whom we know and empathize with. Coan and his U.Va. colleagues conducted the study with 22 young adult participants who underwent fMRI scans of their brains during experiments to monitor brain activity while under threat of receiving mild electrical shocks to themselves or to a friend or stranger. The researchers found, as they expected, that regions of the brain responsible for threat response -- the anterior insula, putamen and supramarginal gyrus -- became active under threat of shock to the self. In the case of threat of shock to a stranger, the brain in those regions displayed little activity. However when the threat of shock was to a friend, the brain activity of the participant became essentially identical to the activity displayed under threat to the self. "The correlation between self and friend was remarkably similar," Coan said. "The finding shows the brain's remarkable capacity to model self to others; that people close to us become a part of ourselves, and that is not just metaphor or poetry, it's very real. Literally we are under threat when a friend is under threat. But not so when a stranger is under threat." Coan said this likely is because humans need to have friends and allies who they can side with and see as being the same as themselves. And as people spend more time together, they become more similar. "It's essentially a breakdown of self and other; our self comes to include the people we become close to," Coan said. "If a friend is under threat, it becomes the same as if we ourselves are under threat. We can understand the pain or difficulty they may be going through in the same way we understand our own pain." This likely is the source of empathy, and part of the evolutionary process, Coan reasons. "A threat to ourselves is a threat to our resources," he said. "Threats can take things away from us. But when we develop friendships, people we can trust and rely on who in essence become we, then our resources are expanded, we gain. Your goal becomes my goal. It's a part of our survivability."[/QUOTE]

I'm genuinely surprised by this because the longer I stay on the Internet the longer I stay convinced of the opposite.

the way some people have treated me before I don't believe this so much

[QUOTE=MaxOfS2D;41930147]I'm genuinely surprised by this because the longer I stay on the Internet the longer I stay convinced of the opposite.[/QUOTE] I guess it's hard to relate text and voice on the internet to yourself as a person? aka the tried and tested anonymity = douches

-Except for people with autism, of course. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Dumb" - Craptasket))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=MaxOfS2D;41930147]I'm genuinely surprised by this because the longer I stay on the Internet the longer I stay convinced of the opposite.[/QUOTE] The study says that people display empathy towards friends or people similarly close to them, not just any stranger.

[QUOTE=MaxOfS2D;41930147]I'm genuinely surprised by this because the longer I stay on the Internet the longer I stay convinced of the opposite.[/QUOTE]I guess the Internet removes the whole "putting yourself in others shoes" thing.

pretty obvious if you ask me

[QUOTE=MaxOfS2D;41930147]I'm genuinely surprised by this because the longer I stay on the Internet the longer I stay convinced of the opposite.[/QUOTE] Most likely because others on the net aren't viewing the person that they're are talking to, and that usually leads to a sub-conscious notion that the person they're are talking to over the internet isn't human and cannot relate to them in anyway. Well, that's how I view anonymity over the Internet. People being douches to others because they don't know the other person and believe that it will not affect their lives.

Well, we were made for being in a herd 'till we die

[QUOTE=Jocke;41930226]Well, we were made for being in a herd 'till we die[/QUOTE] Not really a herd, more like basic communities that support each other. If we were made to be a herd, we'd be like cattle: standing in large groups, and when the predators come around, we let the slowest die without, or at least with little emotional response.

[QUOTE=MaxOfS2D;41930147]I'm genuinely surprised by this because the longer I stay on the Internet the longer I stay convinced of the opposite.[/QUOTE] people act different on the internet, maxo~

this had to be true, humans are very social creatures

[QUOTE=Jacknife;41930248]people act different on the internet, maxo~[/QUOTE] I would say they are more honest thanks to the anonymity. Sure some people may pretend to be edgy to upset people but I still think that there are quite a lot sociopaths on the net.

I honestly think the only reason it doesn't seem this way is because of the internet, instead of seeing all the normal and great people in the world, you only see the most extreme and ridiculous shit.

[QUOTE=Ryu-Gi;41930183]-Except for people with autism, of course.[/QUOTE] I get the play at "hurr internet users hurr autism" but this shit isn't funny anymore, It's embarrassing to even read.

[QUOTE=Ryu-Gi;41930183]-Except for people with autism, of course.[/QUOTE] What a weird way to spell sociopathy.

[QUOTE=MaxOfS2D;41930147]I'm genuinely surprised by this because the longer I stay on the Internet the longer I stay convinced of the opposite.[/QUOTE]Well, considering some of the comments on here, and especially the comments on Youtube... Yeah.

[QUOTE=Lambadvanced;41930487]I honestly think the only reason it doesn't seem this way is because of the internet, instead of seeing all the normal and great people in the world, you only see the most extreme and ridiculous shit.[/QUOTE] Everybody uses the internet nowdays.

[QUOTE=Alec W;41930587]I get the play at "hurr internet users hurr autism" but this shit isn't funny anymore, It's embarrassing to even read.[/QUOTE]It's okay, let him say it. It's their word.

The internet, and heck even the average public transit clientele or highschool/college classroom aren't really applicable to the point of the study. The point is that empathy exists when there is a sizeable interpersonal connection between two individuals or a group of individuals. This is because we see our friends as symbiotic instruments for achieving goals and fulfillment, and therefore view their wellbeing as important to our own wellbeing. Most of the time even on the internet people aren't dicks to their friends, but is a random forum poster your friend? How about that person on that random server on TF2 or whatever other multiplayer videogame last weekend who dominated you? People are jerks to people they don't know because there is no connection, and therefore no impetus to be kind.

[QUOTE=Ryu-Gi;41930183]-Except for people with autism, of course.[/QUOTE] this from a guy who masturbated to torture porn for attention

I don't like it much when people generalize stuff like "Oh wow, this study is so inaccurate. There are so many horrible things in the world that people do to each other." While that is true, that is definitely NOT what everyone is like. People focus WAY too much on the negative things people do, while they completely ignore the day-to-day good things that happen the majority of the time. Good things happen, "Oh, that's nice, I guess," bad things happen, "Wow, fuck humanity. No hope for the human race, crawling in my skin, etc." The view of humanity as a whole is so one-sided it's ridiculous.

Humans are hardwired for a great deal of things, but conflict of interest is something that will always occur and will always lead to humanities greatest capability... War and destruction. Finite resources will always lead us to conflict over the management of such resources. Desire and curiosity will always have us doubting each other. And the way our brains need a higher power, will ultimately lead to struggle for something "better". Violence is one of natural pillars of life. You may only balance in the hopes of preventing the inevitable.

While this makes sense, capitalism brings out the worst in people unfortunately.

[QUOTE=JustExtreme;41931166]While this makes sense, capitalism brings out the worst in people unfortunately.[/QUOTE] Even in other political systems, people would still fight.

[QUOTE=MaxOfS2D;41930147]I'm genuinely surprised by this because the longer I stay on the Internet the longer I stay convinced of the opposite.[/QUOTE] Friendship? I don't know. Teamwork? Probably. Empathy? Definitely. The reason people troll is because they know how mad the other person will get. In order to do that, you have to empathize with the person and how you think they will take what you are about to say.

[QUOTE=Ryu-Gi;41930183]-Except for people with autism, of course.[/QUOTE] Except I feel genuine and intense love for those close to me. You silly cracker you.

If we're talking about trolling on the internet please remember that the reason people bully each other is because they feel like they have no control over their life so they feel the need to have control over something. This is typically a person. Trolling can be the same way.

[QUOTE=Ryu-Gi;41930183]-Except for people with autism, of course.[/QUOTE] What the fuck is wrong with you?