The evolution of empathy

Empathy is something I’m interested in investigating, particularly on how it appeared in the human community. This article doesn’t do extensive analysis, but it still grabs my attention. I’m sure there’s a lot more research out there on the development of empathy in humans.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-me-in-we/201612/the-evolutionary-origins-empathy%3famp

I definitely think empathy is one of our strengths, and because of it, we have been able to achieve a lot. It makes me happy when horrible, unwelcomed thoughts I have are met with strong desires to protect the people I have horrible thoughts about. It makes me realize how important of a role empathy has on someone’s behavior. It makes me feel good about myself.

I have not read the article yet.

But I would assume empathy is pretty much the domain of mammals, and maybe birds.

Okay, breezed over the article. Do not agree with it at all.

Wolfs demonstrate amazing co-operative care of the pack's offspring.

As do lions.

And penguins.

And many other animals.

Primates have no patent on community daycare.

I don’t think that the author necessarily thought that other animal groups didn’t have empathy. It only focused on humans and animals that have common ancestors with humans. It said how humans differ with some primates while are similar to other primates. I recommend reading all the details all the way through. The article is a good read.