E is for Empathy

This week's lesson is on empathy. 

Before I took the empathy quiz, I thought I was empathetic. Once I took the empathy test, I found that I am averagely empathetic. I don't think I was horribly surprised by this. Many of the statements I felt like I would need a concrete scenario to give an accurate response. Of course, that response would change depending on the scenario. 

I don't think someone can be taught empathy in the normal educational sense.

All of this make me think of the TV show 'Bones.'

I know we're not supposed to name names but it just works so well.

At the birth of the show, Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan comes off as extremely cold and extremely unempathetic. Her partner, FBI Agent, Seeley Booth, on the other hand, is very empathetic, much to Dr. Brennan's dislike. 

As the show continues through 8 seasons, Agent Booth begins to rub off on Dr. Brennan, to the point that they get married and have a baby. Of course, this doesn't happen through the course of a couple of episodes. Agent Booth gives Dr. Brennan little lessons in empathy every couple of episodes. 

For example, Dr. Brennan was testifying in a murder trail. She was warned not to use medical or anthropological terms when testifying because the jury won't be able to understand. She does, nonetheless. Agent Booth tells the Prosecutor to ask Dr. Brennan about a sensitive topic in her life so that when she answers, she will be more relatable to the jury. After it's all said and done, she was upset at Agent Booth for opening an old wound but understood why he did it, our first hint that she does have empathy.

Through a series of similar lessons, Dr. Brennan develops quite a bit on empathy for others. 

All of this goes to say, you can't 'teach' someone empathy, but through different experiences, one can develop a greater sense of empathy. That is, unless you are a psychopath in the true sense of the word.