"All you need is love." I need to find an empathetic rebuttal/clarification to this. [more inside]
posted by twins named Lugubrious and Salubrious on Apr 5, 2009 - 41 answers

I'm working on my PhD in artists' books at the moment. Recently, pursuing aspects of creativity from a cognition-and-creativity viewpoint has become interesting to me. I need a toehold on the science, here. [more inside]
posted by aesop on Mar 3, 2009 - 5 answers

Is there a term for that feeling when you realize someone else notices (or notices in a particular way) something you had never thought of anyone else paying attention to, or viewing similarly? [more inside]
posted by phrontist on Dec 19, 2008 - 12 answers

This week, a friend/mentor died after an extended battle with cancer. I felt saddened by his death, but also extremely guilty - I had not visited him in more than six months. I know, some friend. But his death has made me reexamine myself and my relationships with friends and family. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 8, 2008 - 12 answers

At a cocktail party last weekend, an Anthropologist was telling me about an experiment/study where people were shown videos of various animals preying on one another, and then measured their reactions. The findings, he contends, were that humans were largely more sympathetic to the deaths of animals more similar to themselves (i.e. sharing a more recent common ancestor). What is this study, what is this area of research called, and where can I read more about it? [more inside]
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj on Jan 18, 2008 - 8 answers

Alternatives to "I'm sorry..." [more inside]
posted by TheGoldenOne on Dec 8, 2007 - 35 answers

Doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, health professionals of any and all flavors: how do you dissociate yourselves from the misery, suffering, and death of your patients or clients? [more inside]
posted by granted on Jan 15, 2007 - 16 answers

How can I be more empathetic? [more inside]
posted by rolypolyman on May 9, 2006 - 26 answers

How do I become LESS empathetic? [more inside]
posted by 235w103 on Apr 11, 2006 - 36 answers

How do I learn what to say to a friend in need? [more inside]
posted by schroedinger on Apr 19, 2005 - 18 answers