Virtual Reality Can Increase Empathy for the Homeless
New research finds it's an effective way to step into the shoes of someone less fortunate.
Empathy
For Men, a Fear of Being Judged as Inept Incites Sexual Harassment
In a new study, males were more likely to endorse sexually aggressive behavior if they worried they were viewed as incompetent.
What's the Purpose of Empathy?
People love to romanticize empathy. But do they ever act on it?
'I Hope That People Choose Empathy': A Conversation With Atia Abawi
The journalist and novelist discusses her new novel about a Syrian refugee—and the power and reach of the young adult genre.
On Libertarians, Autism, and Empathy
Historian Nancy MacLean's off-the-cuff remarks earlier this month may have mischaracterized libertarianism, but they totally distorted autism.
The Many Sides of Empathy
Empathy could play a larger role in dividing us than previously thought.
Meditation May Not Make You a Better Person After All
A critical look at the research suggests its benefits are less than advertised.
Religious People Tend to Be More Compassionate
New research finds reason and empathy are separate but compatible.
We're Not the Only Species With Empathy
Prairie voles console their stressed-out friends, much like humans do.
Stranger Than Fiction
We know literary fiction can make us more empathetic. Can it also be used to raise geopolitical awareness?
Empathy for Outsiders Can Be Taught
New research finds a specific scenario can increase empathetic feelings toward a maligned group.
The Rough Road to Greater Empathy
New research finds contact with a coarse surface can put us in a more charitable frame of mind.
Empathy for the Rest of Us
Why we cringe for our fellow humans, and why it's so important.
This Doctor Knows Exactly How You Feel
A rare condition causes Joel Salinas to experience other people's emotions and sensations. Is mirror-touch synesthesia a superpower or a curse?
The Most Empathetic Doctor in the World
An early look at a Pacific Standard story that's currently only available to subscribers.
How to Convince Men to Help the Poor
New research finds the key to a successful fund-raising campaign is convincing them that their self-interest is aligned with your cause.
Presence of a Smartphone Lowers Quality of Conversations
New research finds having a mobile device within easy reach divides your attention, even if you're not actively looking at it.
Narcissists Are Capable of Empathy After All
New research from the U.K. suggests people with narcissistic tendencies can be moved by others’ suffering.
The Benefits of Walking on Fire
Those who participated in a fire-walking ritual felt happier and less fatigued afterwards than close relatives who spectated.
The Racial Empathy Gap
Why, with all other things being equal, do people react more strongly to images of light-skinned individuals being harmed than they do to those involving dark-skinned individuals?
Promoting Empathy: What's Troubling About a Hospital Video
Empathy can distract. It misleads, causing us to act counter to the greater good.
Money Degrades Our Ability to Empathize
New research finds that offering people money makes them less likely to correctly infer another person’s emotional state.
Why She Cries at Movies, While He Snores
New research finds men and women feel sympathy for fictional characters for different reasons.