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Saturday, 31 May 2014

Can narcissists be moved to show empathy?

Researchers at
the University of Surrey and the University of Southampton have
investigated whether narcissists can elicit empathy for another person's
suffering. It has been well documented that narcissists lack empathy,
but why is that the case, and do they have the capacity to change that
behavior? New research suggests that with the right focus, people with
narcissistic tendencies can feel empathy for another person's suffering.

The research is published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

Characterizing narcissism

When
we think of narcissism most of us can all think of a colleague, friend,
or former significant other that would fit the description; "A bit full
of themselves, self-centered, and don't seem too concerned about the
effects they have on other people," says lead researcher, Erica Hepper.
This lack of empathy has a detrimental effect on interpersonal
relationships, social bonding and prosocial behavior.

For the
purposes of this research, the researchers focused on individuals who
exhibit subclinical narcissism, rather than a clinical diagnosis of
narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). Dr. Hepper explains that this
distinction was made because "people high in subclinical narcissism are
psychologically healthy and well-adjusted, often even very successful,
whereas people with NPD are inflexible and volatile, and don't manage
day-to-day life well." Subclinical narcissism is also more common, and
the number of people exhibiting narcissistic traits in our society
continues to increase. The participants were broken down into two
categories, 'low narcissists' and 'high narcissists,' which identifies
participants as being less narcissistic or more narcissistic than the
average person.

Information Clearing House

Alison Weir / If Americans Knew...

The Corbett Report

Centre for Research on Globalisation

Signs of the Times

Photojournalism:

BOYCOTT ISRAEL

BREAK THE GATEKEEPERS

ARE YOU A CITIZEN OR A SUBJECT?

The inability to grasp the pathology of our oligarchic rulers is one of our gravest faults. We have been blinded to the depravity of our ruling elite by the relentless propaganda of public relations firms that work on behalf of corporations and the rich.

We need to remember that, psychopaths and other personality disordered individuals really have no choice but to be what they are; they are like forces of nature. But normal human beings DO have a choice as to whether they will accept abuse or not. By accepting abuse, they give power to the psychopaths to abuse others so it is not just a matter of self-preservation; it is a matter of making sure that our children have a future. It seems that, in a world where the people cannot or will not, rise up against psychopathy in power, the Cosmos will do it for them, and take them out as well for their silence and their weakness. The bottom line is, nobody and no event is going to “save” anyone. It is only human beings, individually and collectively, who have the power to BE salvation.” – Laura Knight-Jadczyk

Plans for control of the evil forces that have been loosed in the world, attempts to compensate the evil- doing by good works or sympathy for the victims, efforts to safeguard the peace or to effect ideal solutions of all the material problems involved, can do little to change the nature of the situation. The real problem, namely, the question of what can be done for civilization in face of the nonhuman forces arising from the collective unconscious in thousands or rather millions of individual persons, will remain untouched. However, if only one human being has met and solved the problem in himself, he will be a living demonstration of a solution. Such an individual carries with him the germ of a renaissance of the spiritual values of mankind.

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