{"id":1245,"date":"2018-05-27T10:32:47","date_gmt":"2018-05-27T10:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=1245"},"modified":"2018-05-27T14:20:55","modified_gmt":"2018-05-27T14:20:55","slug":"manipulation-of-empathy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/empathy-compassion\/manipulation-of-empathy","title":{"rendered":"Manipulation of Empathy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since empathy is a primordially social reflex, manipulation of empathy is relatively easy and can rightly be called \u2018sociopathy\u2019. Unfortunately, this is not seldom in politics worldwide.<\/h3>\n

People are \u2018natural empathizers\u2019<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

but diverse in form and object. For example: empathy for close circle (family, \u2018own people\u2019\u2026) versus empathy for wide circle (\u2018human rights\u2019\u2026). Thus, even while both originate from the same human and respectable drive, there is the possibility that people with different \u2018objects of empathy\u2019 turn against each other, seeing in the other a threat.<\/p>\n

This should be treated with subtlety, bringing people together.<\/p>\n

Manipulation is the opposite: the feeling of threat is artificially heightened. People are made<\/em> into each other\u2019s enemies \u2026 and going deeper into it, also of themselves.<\/p>\n

In politics<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There is a lot of abuse of this phenomenon in politics. Here it\u2019s generally called \u2018populism\u2019.<\/p>\n

I see as a big cause of this the power of social media. For example, the huge degree to which different opinions get stuck into silos. A \u2018progressive\u2019 person gets \u2018progressive\u2019 information. A \u2018conservative\u2019 person gets \u2018conservative\u2019 information. This is heaven for a politician with a thirst to manipulate-and-win. The \u2018enemy\u2019 in such case may be external and<\/em> internal: voters for the other party. The more these voters object, the better for the manipulator (sorry: \u2018sociopath\u2019) to whip up one\u2019s own contingency.<\/p>\n

The winner is such case is the one who can manipulate most adroitly.<\/p>\n

Another big cause may be that people are becoming more \u2018vulnerably sensitive\u2019. While sensitivity by itself<\/em> is of course a good thing and a sign of real<\/u> progress, there is also always a related danger of<\/p>\n

vulnerability.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The more \u2018empathy\u2019 slides to \u2018sympathy\u2019 or even \u2018emotional contagion\u2019 (see \u2018Landscape of Empathy<\/a>\u2019) the more people are vulnerable to manipulation.<\/p>\n

Democracy<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is also related to the degree of \u2018real<\/u> democracy\u2019: people being easily manipulated effectively diminishes this degree. Thus it is appropriate to see a general \u2018sensitivity without vulnerability\u2019 as a cultural asset especially in democratic countries.<\/p>\n

Danger of spreading psychopathy<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is another danger of \u2018manipulation of empathy\u2019: people who are genetically or otherwise vulnerable to psychopathy may, as a result of the manipulation, run a statistically higher risk of ending at this side of the spectrum. This way, a whole society might make a negative shift. Concretely, this may show itself in a higher percentage of people showing signs of psychopathy as well as autism.<\/p>\n

Personal solution<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There is a way to immunize oneself to these dangers without losing one\u2019s sensitivity. See for this also Stressional Intelligence: Sensitivity Without Vulnerability<\/a>, Don\u2019t Be Vulnerable<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cultural solution<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Insight into empathy, its huge possibilities as a force of good as well as the dangers of \u2018empathy without rationality\u2019 (see also Is Empathy a Force of Evil?<\/a>) is hugely important at a cultural level. Since, as I began this text, empathy always originates from the same human drive, there is a lot of possibility to unite<\/em> people in this as a counterweight to any sociopathic tendency.<\/p>\n

According to me, a really<\/u> progressive political system should take this at heart as a top priority.<\/p>\n

Of course, this should as much as possible be based on good science. The \u2018science of empathy\u2019 is important in many domains: healthcare, leadership, politics etc. One of my main dreams is to (co-)organize one or more congresses in these domains.<\/p>\n

If you want to help, please take contact!<\/p>\n

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Since empathy is a primordially social reflex, manipulation of empathy is relatively easy and can rightly be called \u2018sociopathy\u2019. Unfortunately, this is not seldom in politics worldwide. People are \u2018natural empathizers\u2019 but diverse in form and object. For example: empathy for close circle (family, \u2018own people\u2019\u2026) versus empathy for wide circle (\u2018human rights\u2019\u2026). Thus, even Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n

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