Evolution of empathy - An Essay

Authors

  • Mario Schlegel

Abstract

Findings from research into behaviour, infant and young child research, the theory of bonding and developmental psychology demonstrate that the human ability for mutual understanding and cooperation are built on mammalian empathic abilities. Within the primate order these abilities increase with increasing intelligence and enable ever more complex forms of social interactions. In comparison to the great apes, with humans there is a particular form of social cognition as well, which facilitates their particular form of learning, teaching and cooperating.

Examining the findings of evolutionary and behavioural biology support an understanding of empathy, open important insights for the therapeutic process, in the area of counter transference and in supervision.

Keywords: Evolution, emotional contagion, empathy, mentalising, counter transference, supervision

Author Biography

Mario Schlegel

Dr. sc. nat., schloss sein Biologiestudium an der Universität Zürich im Hauptfach Anthropologie ab. An der ETH Zürich doktorierte er in Verhaltenswissenschaften über psychophysiologische Reaktionen beim Wort-Assoziationstest. Ausbildung zum Psychotherapeuten am C.G. Jung-Institut Zürich, wo er heute als Dozent und Lehranalytiker tätig ist. Psychotherapeut in eigener Praxis, Leiter der Wissenschaftskommission der Schweizer Charta für Psychotherapie und Mitbegründer der Zeitschrift "Psychotherapie Wissenschaft“. Autor und Herausgeber diverser Publikationen im Bereich der Psychotherapie. Gegenwärtiger Arbeitsschwerpunkt: Dialog zwischen den Psychotherapieschulen.

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Published

2014-03-31

How to Cite

Schlegel, M. (2014). Evolution of empathy - An Essay. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, 3(2), 90–102. Retrieved from https://psychotherapie-wissenschaft.info/article/view/170

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2013): Freie Themen

Section

Original Work

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