Empathy is at the core of meaningful relationships and human connection.
What exactly enables us to resonate so deeply with the emotions of others?
Defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, empathy lies at the heart of human connection. From its evolutionary origins to modern neuroscience and cultural influences, exploring empathy provides understanding and actionable pathways to a more connected and compassionate world.
Evolutionary and Behavioural Origins of Empathy
Empathy is not unique to humans – it is a trait observed across the mammalian kingdom. Studies by De Waal and Preston reveal that behaviours such as consolation, cooperative care, and emotional contagion – seen in species ranging from primates to elephants – are evidence of empathy in animals. These behaviours likely evolved to strengthen social bonds and increase the survival of groups, underscoring empathy’s evolutionary advantage.
For example, chimpanzees console distressed group members, elephants exhibit mourning behaviours when a herd member dies, dolphins have been observed aiding injured peers to the surface for air, and rats have been shown to help free trapped cage-mates even when there is no direct benefit to themselves.
The Development of Human Empathy
In humans, empathy manifests early in life. Infants exhibit emotional contagion, crying when they hear other babies cry – a precursor to more complex empathic responses. As children grow, their capacity for empathy expands, shaped by both genetic predispositions and environmental influences, such as caregiving quality, exposure to diverse social interactions, and early education. This developmental trajectory underscores empathy’s role as a learned and adaptive skill.
To explore how empathy unfolds over the course of childhood, read Empathy Milestones: How Empathy Develops from Infancy to Adolescence.
Neuroscience Insight
Empathy is deeply rooted in our brain’s architecture. Key regions such as the anterior insular cortex and anterior cingulate cortex are activated both when we experience emotions and when we perceive them in others. Mirror neurons – specialised cells that activate during observation and imitation – further increase our ability to resonate with others’ feelings. This complex neural network forms the basis for shared experiences and emotional understanding.
Research highlights the brain’s remarkable adaptability in empathy. For instance, early social interactions and caregiving environments shape the development of empathic capacities in children. Positive experiences can boost empathy, while adverse conditions, such as neglect or trauma, may impair it.
Ecological Empathy and the Rise of Biophilia
New research also suggests that exposure to natural environments may enhance empathic awareness. Interactions with nature activate brain regions associated with attention, calm, and emotional processing—fostering openness, sensory attunement, and a capacity to connect with non-human life. This supports the emerging field of ecological empathy or ‘biophilia’—the innate human tendency to affiliate with the natural world, which may contribute to the development of broader compassionate awareness.
Empathy Under Challenging Conditions
Empathy is dynamic, influenced by situational and individual factors. Chronic trauma, for instance, alters the brain’s empathic responses. Research by Levy et al. shows that individuals exposed to prolonged stress or trauma may exhibit heightened sensitivity to others’ emotions or, conversely, develop emotional detachment as a coping mechanism.
For strategies to build emotional strength during challenging times, see The Science of Emotional Resilience.
The Role of Identity, Inequality, and the Digital World
Situational factors, such as perceived similarity and the intensity of emotional cues, also shape empathic responses. Depow et al. found that people are more likely to empathise with those they perceive as similar to themselves, highlighting the influence of social and cultural identity. However, societal polarisation and systemic inequalities can suppress empathy by creating divides between groups.
In the digital age, where interactions increasingly occur online, empathy faces new challenges. The lack of face-to-face communication can depersonalise interactions, reducing emotional engagement. However, platforms promoting authentic storytelling and diverse perspectives have the potential to foster greater understanding.
PAUSE AND REFLECT
Think of a moment when you felt truly understood by someone. How did their empathy make you feel, and how might you cultivate the same response in others?
Now consider a time you felt at peace in a natural setting. Could that sense of calm and openness be extended to your relationships with others?
Cultivating Empathy for a Better World
Understanding the basis of empathy has deep implications for fostering compassion and cooperation in society. Education systems can play a vital role by integrating activities that promote emotional intelligence, such as role-playing, perspective-taking exercises, and collaborative problem-solving. Programs like Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and practices, such as mindfulness and narrative storytelling have shown success in increasing empathy among students. For insights into how social play nurtures empathy and connection, explore How Children Learn to Connect: The 6 Stages of Play.
Nature-based education and outdoor group activities can also enhance empathy. When children interact with living systems – whether through gardening, forest schools, or ecological restoration projects – they develop a sense of interconnectedness and responsibility toward both people and planet. This ‘eco-social empathy’ extends compassion across species and ecosystems, shaping more sustainable and caring worldviews.
To bring empathy into everyday family life, read 5 Ways to Raise a Child Who Feels, Cares, and Connects.
Cultural Connection
Across cultures, empathy takes unique forms. For example, in Japanese culture, the practice of “omoiyari” emphasises considerate empathy – anticipating others’ needs and feelings without being asked.
Similarly, Indigenous communities often view empathy as essential to collective wellbeing, underscoring the idea that understanding others is not just personal but communal.
Many Indigenous teachings also link empathy to land. Understanding the feelings of others includes attuning to the rhythms of place—such as listening to birdsong, respecting migration cycles, or recognising the emotional signals of a disturbed ecosystem. Empathy, in this sense, becomes an act of ecological attunement.
For more on how empathy is shaped by diverse cultural teachings, see Empathy Across Cultures.
Explore More: Free Resources
If you’d like to deepen your understanding of empathy and its role in child development, family wellbeing, and education, explore our collection of free tools:
- Empathy Story Cards – Foster meaningful conversations at home or in classrooms through short stories designed to spark empathic reflection.
- Fostering Compassion Calendar – A month-long journey of small daily actions to practice kindness and build social-emotional awareness.
- Friendship Recipe Cards – Creative prompts that help children reflect on qualities of good friendship.
- Discover Your Superpowers – A playful worksheet to identify and affirm strengths related to emotional awareness and connection.
- Play Ideas From Around the World – Culturally inspired play activities that build empathy through perspective-taking.
All of those resources (and more) are available for free to our subscribers. Simply sign up here, download, print and share them with your kids to help them thrive.
Final Thoughts
Empathy is a fundamental mechanism for human connection, grounded in both our biology and our social contexts. Its evolutionary roots, neurological basis, and developmental trajectory reveal an insight into how to foster deeper relationships and a more compassionate world.
To truly cultivate empathy in the 21st century, we must not only understand each other as people—but also relearn how to connect with the natural world that sustains us. In doing so, we expand our capacity for care, understanding, and regeneration across all forms of life.
Reflect
What’s one way you’ve shown empathy recently?
Take a moment to reflect and share this piece with someone who might find it inspiring.
References:
- Singer, T. (2006). The neuronal basis and ontogeny of empathy and mind reading: Review of literature and implications for future research. Neuroscience & Biobehavioural Reviews, 30(6), 855–863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2006.06.011
- Mutschler, I., Reinbold, C., Wankerl, J., Seifritz, E., & Ball, T. (2013). Structural basis of empathy and the domain general region in the anterior insular cortex. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00177
- De Waal, F. B. M., & Preston, S. D. (2017). Mammalian empathy: behavioural manifestations and neural basis. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 18(8), 498–509. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2017.72
- Levy, J., Yirmiya, K., Goldstein, A., & Feldman, R. (2019). The neural basis of empathy and empathic behaviour in the context of chronic trauma. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00562
- Decety, J. (2010). The neurodevelopment of empathy in humans. Developmental Neuroscience, 32(4), 257–267. https://doi.org/10.1159/000317771
- Depow, G. J., Francis, Z., & Inzlicht, M. (2021). The experience of empathy in everyday life. Psychological Science, 32(8), 1198–1213. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797621995202
- Jankowiak-Siuda, K., Rymarczyk, K., & Grabowska, A. (2011). How we empathize with others: A neurobiological perspective. Medical Science Monitor, 17(1), RA18–RA24. https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.881324
- Mayer, F. S., Frantz, C. M., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., & Dolliver, K. (2008). Why is nature beneficial? Environment and Behavior, 41(5), 607–643. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916508319745
- Capaldi, C. A., Dopko, R. L., & Zelenski, J. M. (2014). The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00976
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