As we keep our ear to the ground, we continue to hear reports that emotional intelligence—and specifically empathy—is spiraling downward among kids. The sociology department at the University of Michigan, led by Dr. William Axinn at the Population Studies Center, tells us thatcollege students today are approximately 40% less empathetic than they were just ten years ago. That’s quite a drop. I find it quite strange that in a generation more connected to each other than ever, young adults find it increasingly difficult to feel compassion toward each other.
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Free speech limits are shifting as younger people weigh the right to speak against the duty not to wound with words.
Can empathy and truth be reconciled?
Does this mean that “safe space” and free speech exclude one another? Not necessarily, but only if we understand safety as protection from real violence and threat, not from the discomfort of thought. The problem appears when “safe space” means a zone free from all ideas that someone may regard as harmful.
Empathy and truth can be reconciled, but not when empathy begins to define which truth may be spoken. Truth is often uncomfortable by nature. If it never wounded, we would not need courage to speak it.
Civilization is destroying itself, says the Canadian scholar who is fleeing Montreal for the U.S.
The Strengths: Why It Resonates
Saad’s concept offers a clean framework for a frustration shared by many modern critics. By using an evolutionary biology lens, he brilliantly articulates why unconditional tolerance can lead to a paradox where a society tolerates its own destruction. Framing the critique around empathy rather than malice explains why otherwise well-meaning people support policies with disastrous long-term consequences. His personal history as a refugee lends real emotional gravity to his warnings about civilizational collapse.
The Criticisms: Where It Falters
On the flip side, critics argue that "suicidal empathy" operates more as a politically weaponized buzzword than a rigorous psychological metric. Media analysts point out that Saad relies heavily on provocative anecdotes—such as European grooming scandals or selective immigration cases—to generalize complex systemic issues. Opponents argue that pathologizing empathy is an effort to dismantle social safety nets and dehumanize marginalized communities, such as asylum seekers.
Ultimately, the piece is a provocative, polarizing read that serves as a core text for the modern anti-woke movement, heavily praised by figures like Elon Musk and Bill Ackman, while being deeply critiqued by the progressive left as an assault on fundamental human compassion.
The simple act of noticing someone's eye color can build your empathy, explains Alan Alda, who got so curious about empathy one day that he began to experiment on himself. Any time he'd interact with someone, he would try to figure out what they were feeling, and name their emotional state (using strictly his inside voice).
A study involving 900 students in 6 countries found that a short programme of empathy lessons led to measurable, positive changes in their conduct, emotional awareness and curiosity about different cultures.
An analysis of a short programme teaching empathy in schools has found it had a positive impact on students’ behaviour and increased their emotional literacy within 10 weeks.
The findings come from an evaluation of the 'Empathy Programme': a term-long course developed by the UK-based Empathy Studios. The research was conducted with support from academics at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge.
Bio: Teri McGovern-Nintzel is a vagal toning and empathy circle facilitator, writer, poet, and intuitive composer who creates spaces that support connection, resilience, and embodied presence. (Website) (Facebook)
Topic:The Synergy of Empathy Circles and Vagal Toning
Abstract: Empathy circles offer a predictable, supportive structure that helps our nervous systems relax into a shared intention for connection. This strengthens the social engagement system and builds resilience in returning to collaboration after stress. Vagal toning practices further support this capacity, helping participants shift into presence and out of defensive states.
Bio: I’m a psychologist, meditation teacher, and former lawyer dedicated to helping people feel more connected — to themselves, to their partners, and to something deeper. (Website) (LinkedIn)
Topic: Empathy Circles as a Core Intervention in Couples Therapy Abstract: Empathy circles in couples therapy teach partners to listen deeply, reflect accurately, and understand the underlying emotions and intentions behind each other’s experiences. This structured practice fosters emotional safety, clearer communication, and stronger connection, helping couples move beyond reactive patterns toward more conscious and compassionate relating. When integrated into daily life, it not only improves relationship stability and satisfaction but also creates a healthier emotional environment that positively shapes children’s development.
Bio: Daniel Hirtz is a breathwork educator, drum circle facilitator, and empathy circle co-host whose 40 years of group practice have taught him to recognize the living energy that moves through people when they truly listen to each other. (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Website)
Topic:The Living Energy of Empathy Circles — Naming What's Already Happening
Abstract: Something powerful moves through an empathy circle when it's working — a tangible, living energy that most participants feel but few have language for. After 40 years of facilitating breathwork and drum circles, I've come to recognize this as the same energy: the field that emerges whenever human beings enter genuine mutual contact. Naming this energy — making it visible — is how we build a movement that people don't just understand intellectually but feel in their bodies and carry with them.
Topic: Embodying Virtue: Combining the Classic Empathy Circle with Universal Human Values
Abstract: The classic Empathy Circle always includes the option to speak about whatever is in your heart and mind, and will usually also include a suggested topic. Along with the "free speech" option, a community of Empathy Circle practitioners combines the Empathy Circle practice with the 16 Guidelines. The 16 Guidelines are a set of universal human values based on a short 7th century classic Tibetan text that helped transform Tibet from a violent society to a compassionate society. Values or virtues such as humility, gratitude, forgiveness, and courage have known benefits for human flourishing and wellbeing.
Tom Hoerr’s new book stems from his premise that leadership is based on relationships, and he uses empathy as the tool to help everyone grow. He shows how we can each grow our empathy. Hoerr devotes chapters to empathy and personnel, instructional leadership, DEI, and so on.
The book is filled with specific examples, tables, and strategies to help everyone lead in an empathic manner. He also relates leading by empathy to the other Formative Five success skills – self-control, integrity, embracing diversity, and grit – and offers many interesting anecdotes.
A principal’s skills, knowledge, and experience are important when it comes to leading schools. But whether interacting with staff, students, or parents, principals also need empathy—a key social-emotional skill—to be effective and drive continuous improvement. In this book, veteran school leader Thomas R. Hoerr makes the case for why schools need a Chief Empathy Officer as principal and how to become one.
Discover how to grow your own empathy, as well as that of others, and the enormous positive effect this can have on your school. Explore how to view differences of opinion as opportunities to learn. And learn how empathy can help you
As a Christian, cultivating empathy is central to what it means to be a person of faith. The most divisive claim of Christianity is that Jesus of Nazareth was God in the flesh; God incarnate. That central tenet of our faith is blasphemous to many and nonsense to others, but to us it is defining.
The belief that the only Son of God entered our world, walked in our shoes and stumbled beneath the same load we carry — quite literally climbing into our skin and walking around in it — shapes the way we interact with others (or, at least, it should).
by Lou Agosta Find out what's going on with the anti-empathy movement and how to answer and debunk the dangerous half truths, lies, and total nonsense....
Listen to this episode from A Rumor of Empathy with Lou Agosta on Spotify. One can always make a splash by throwing a rotten tomato, and the would-be critique of empathy uncharitably takes the weakest version of empathy and refutes it. In contrast, a rigorous and critical empathy engages in a process of continuous improvement of empathy by “cleaning up” the empathic breakdowns of emotional contagion, projection, conformity, and communications lost in translation, resulting in the expansion of empathy in the individual and the community.
“Disclosure Day” is a kind of bridge between both modes of Spielberg — a thrilling chase movie filled with wonderment that’s nevertheless grounded in reality and recent history. And its most ardent message is quite earthbound. Blunt’s character’s clarity comes from looking people in the eye. As much as it’s about aliens, “Disclosure Day” is about empathy.
“I think every movie should have a great emphasis on empathy because empathy sometimes feels like it’s in short supply,” Spielberg says. “We have it, sometimes we can’t use it. Sometimes it’s not allowed to be used if you want to stay aligned with your friends and your belief systems. But I think empathy is there for all of us.”
The simple act of noticing someone's eye color can build your empathy, explains Alan Alda, who got so curious about empathy one day that he began to experiment on himself. Any time he'd interact with someone, he would try to figure out what they were feeling, and name their emotional state (using strictly his inside voice). This exercise inspired psychologist Dr. Matthew Lerner to conduct a scientific study on empathy, and how it can be bolstered by practicing visual perception.
In a modern environment where data can be unreliable and trust is low, the article argues that brands must move beyond transactional metrics and utilize empathy to truly understand human nuances. It highlights that while AI can recognize patterns and automate messaging, it cannot manufacture the cultural relevance and emotional connection required to build genuine relationships with consumers. Ultimately, the piece advocates for shifting from passive observation to active cultural participation, allowing organizations to bridge the empathy gap and ensure human-centric strategy and innovation.
Las marcas no deben depender solo de datos cuantitativos o automatización. Para conectar con los consumidores en entornos de desconfianza, deben usar la empatía y la participación cultural activa para lograr una innovación verdaderamente humana.
To do this, the researchers created multidimensional profiles of empathy. First, they ruled out that this was just an innate instinctual behavior: Rats only help rats that they are friends with, but not those they have never met before.
When it comes to empathy, providing aid cannot occur randomly, but rather presupposes that sensing the other takes place in three dimensions, namely by registering the other’s emotion, situation, and (further) mental states. The behavior should also be based on this registering of information and occur flexibly, not instinctively. One should not help another for personal benefit, but because it is geared toward the other.
In these transformative Summits, https://EmpathySummit.com seasoned practitioners and thought leaders converge to explore the profound impact and potential of the Empathy Circle practice. https://EmpathySummit.com/dates/june-6-2026-empathy-circles These gatherings serve as a crucible for understanding and advancing the Empathy Movement, with the Empathy Circle at its core.
Bio: Larry Lawhorn is a long term host of a weekly Empathy Circle series at EmpathyMatters.org :-)
Topic:Active Listening in Empathy Circles
Abstract: Our thoughts are like seeds, and we are the gardeners of our own self-care... and our own planet's self-care. Perhaps listening is not just waiting for our turn to speak. Perhaps listening is the willingness to make room for what is already waiting to be heard.
Bio: Kevin Waldman is a clinical researcher, mental health professional, and founder of psychFORM Research Lab, focusing on developmental psychology, identity formation, and the psychological effects of performative behavior. (Website) (LinkedIn)
Topic: Empathy Circles Restore Genuine Connection in an Age of Performative Empathy
Abstract: This presentation explores how performative empathy - shaped by social signaling and external validation - can distance young people from genuine emotional connection. It introduces the empathy circle as a practice that centers active listening, emotional attunement, and mutual understanding. By contrasting performative empathy with the lived experience of an empathy circle, this work argues that empathy circles offer a direct way to reconnect individuals with authentic human understanding and presence.
Bio: I’m a Director of a local Community Charity and I work part time as a volunteer in a local community kitchen for the homeless and disadvantaged (Website) (LinkedIn) (Facebook)
Topic: The Use of Empathy Circles in Family Dynamics.
Abstract: How the use of this process enabled me to reach out to my self harming daughter and establish a line of communications that was safe for all of us. The power of my daughter being given full attention from both of her parents at once ensured she was fully understood and felt she had a safe vessel to open up into. I do a 15min talk about how it was established and the power that I gave her to feel fully heard.
Tom Hoerr’s new book stems from his premise that leadership is based on relationships, and he uses empathy as the tool to help everyone grow. He shows how we can each grow our empathy. Hoerr devotes chapters to empathy and personnel, instructional leadership, DEI, and so on. The book is filled with specific examples, tables, and strategies to help everyone lead in an empathic manner. He also relates leading by empathy to the other Formative Five success skills – self-control, integrity, embracing diversity, and grit – and offers many interesting anecdotes.
Most people think industrial designers make products look better. The reality is much more interesting. Industrial designers solve problems—problems that can improve life for thousands, sometimes millions, of people.
At Academy of Art University’s School of Industrial Design, students in the BFA, MA, and MFA programs, available on campus in San Francisco and online, learn that every successful design begins with the same philosophy: Empathy first. Logic second. Aesthetics third.
That philosophy shapes every project, whether students are designing furniture, footwear, consumer electronics, transportation, medical devices, toys, or products that don’t exist yet because no one has realized they’re needed.
Much of the current backlash against empathy is a definitional problem. Critics focus on one specific kind while ignoring a more complete picture of the concept.
When most people hear the word empathy, they think of emotional empathy—the capacity to feel what another person is feeling, to absorb their emotional state. In claims work, this means an adjuster who takes on the weight of a claimant’s distress or anger. Emotional empathy has real value. It tells another person they are not alone and that the professional handling their claim understands what they are going through.
Fascist Cruelty and Unrestrained, Rapacious Capitalism
There is a definite “philosophical” connection between the fascist attack on empathy and the denunciation of altruism by right-wing writer Ayn Rand, who (even after her death) continues to have significant influence particularly among a number of tech titans and other billionaire executives. According to Ayn Rand, altruism—regard for others...unselfish concern for the well-being of others—is a poisonous corrosive force that corrupts society and undermines the necessary operation of capitalism, as the best possible system.
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