"An inside look at the power of
empathy: Born for Love is an unprecedented exploration of how and why the
brain learns to bond with others—and a stirring call to protect our
children from new threats to their capacity to love.
From birth, when babies' fingers instinctively cling to those of adults,
their bodies and brains seek an intimate connection, a bond made possible
by empathy—the ability to love and to share the feelings of others.
In this provocative book, renowned child psychiatrist Bruce D. Perry and
award-winning science journalist Maia Szalavitz interweave research and
stories from Perry's practice with cutting-edge scientific studies and
historical examples to explain how empathy develops, why it is essential
for our development into healthy adults, and how it is threatened in the
modern world."
Bruce Perry “Empathy
underlies virtually everything that makes society work—like trust,
altruism, collaboration,
love, charity. Failure to empathize is a key part of most social
problems—crime,
violence, war, racism, child
abuse,
and inequity, to name just a few.”
"From birth, we seek intimate
connections, bonds made possible by empathy — the ability to love and to
share the feelings of others. Review scientific and historical examples
of how empathy develops, why it is essential to our development, and how
the modern world threatens it.
Explore how compassion underlies the
qualities that make society work and how difficulties related to empathy
are key factors in social problems, mental illness, and even physical
health. Learn how recent technological changes, child-rearing practices,
education, and lifestyles affect a child's understanding of human
contact and deep relationships, the foundation for empathy and a caring,
healthy society. Take home practical ideas for combating the negative
influences of modern life and fostering social change."
The more you repeat an action the more
the brain strengthens that neural connection.
33.20 standardized empathy measures say
empathy down in colleges
community depends on empathic
development
how can you have a democracy if people
don't engage
we have to have social empathic
experiences to strengthen and build those networks
i.e. society needs to create social
skills in the young
42:00 relational health - deal with
disaster better and heal faster
need to build a rich relational
community for children
In order to be empathic, compassionate - develops from
being cared for, shared with, listened to, values and nurtured.
relational poverty
Quotes
“Empathy underlies virtually everything that makes society work - like
trust, altruism, collaboration, love, charity. Failure to empathize is a
key part of most social problems - crime, violence, war, racism, child
abuse, and inequity, to make just a few”
(Szalavitz & Perry, 2010, p. 4).
“The risks for heart disease, stroke, depression, diabetes, asthma, and
even many cancers are all affected by trauma-related changes in the
stress response system. Empathy and connection affect physical—not just
mental—wellness and health.”
― Bruce D. Perry, Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential--and
Endangered
"One of the most important aspects of being a human being, is being able
to be in a relationship. Being able to successfully form and
maintain a relationship. And at the heart of that capability is
the capacity to put yourself in somebody else's shoes, to see the world
how they see it. That capacity is empathy"
