Why Empathy Could Stop the Pandemic
As Allie Volpe reports for Elemental, data shows that empathy is crucial for embracing measures that could help end the Covid-19 pandemic. She writes:
Empathy, or the ability to understand another person’s feelings and points of view, is a hardwired trait that humans exhibit as young as six months old. This notion of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is at the root of debates over lockdowns, masking, limits on gatherings, and social distancing. Critics of these measures have failed to see how public health guidelines affect people outside of their own orbit, arguing they infringe on their freedoms. However, concern for susceptible populations and for overall community well-being have been shown to promote social distancing, according to studies.
Empathy can also be learned, experts say. Read more below.
