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| (Painting by Adriaen Brouwer, c. 1630-40) |
Picture this: Someone
you know and love is suffering with a horrible illness. You try every which way you can to alleviate the
pain. You even pray to
take on some of it yourself. Nevertheless,
the telltale signs of this disease disgust you to the point of having to leave the sickroom frequently.
What's going on here?
How can so much empathy and disgust coexist?
As it turns out, humans seem hardwired for both.
Arielle Duhaime-Ross of Scientific American reports that some researchers believe mirror neurons to be the key to human empathy. These neurons
fire "when an individual carries out an action and when that individual watches another perform the same action." Other
scientists link empathy with the hormone oxytocin, a neurotransmitter that is also involved in trust, generosity, and bonding.
Human empathy also entails a strong cognitive component. In other
words, "humans have to be able to imagine another's situation in order to feel empathy." Biologically, this type of cognition helps to insure survival through mutual aid. Morally,
it makes for a kinder, gentler species.
Disgust also has its biological benefits. This type of feeling may have its roots deep in our evolutionary past. It
urges our avoidance of that which could endanger our survival (such as snakes, rats, infectious sores, rotten food, and other "disgusting" stimuli).
Whereas empathy can be vital for long-term survival, disgust often wins out in a pinch.
Resources
http://news.yahoo.com/empathy-disgust-battle-brain-120000167.html
Copyright June 24, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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