A spectrum of psychiatric disorders ranging from a relatively moderate lack of appreciation of the affective life (perspective) of other individuals known as Asperger’s syndrome all the way to profound disturbance of ability to relate, total isolation, apparently meaningless spinning and rocking, and lack of socialization (Kanner).
I have been catching up on my reading. Norman Doidge’s book, The Brain that Changes Itself (Penguin, 427pp. ($18)), was published in 2007, now some twelve years ago. This publication occurred towards the beginning of the era of neuro-hype that now… Read More ›
In spite of the many patients who have been helped to lead emotionally stable, more productive lives thanks to two generations of psychopharmacological medicines, psychiatry is facing an ongoing challenge of its foundation and legitimacy. That is the take-away in… Read More ›
Empathy is oxygen for the soul. So if you are feeling short of breath due to life stresses, perhaps one needs expanded empathy. Get some here. This is what you need to know to register. Further details on the course content… Read More ›
I am sick at heart. Coming at the same time of the Christmas story, events raise the deeply unsettling specter of King Herod’s slaughter of the innocents, which sent Mary and Joseph in flight to Egypt. We are all in… Read More ›
You know how in the world of high fashion grey is the new black? Well, empathy is the new love. Okay, enough with the tenuous humor. What does this mean? Culturally? Politically? Psychodynamically? Polemically? Critically? Culturally, the context is a… Read More ›
A wonderful example of empathy and its absence is documented in one of the fairy tales (Märchen) of the collection edited by the Grimm Brothers. “The Story of the Youth Who Set Out to Learn Fear” is about a youth… Read More ›
The classical philosophical problem of other minds has been replaced with the cognitive tasks of mindreading, simulating worlds and minds, and, more particularly, accounting for false belief. More about these latter in the post on Empathy and Analogy devoted to… Read More ›
Empathy Lessons 