Is empathy an in-born personality characteristic, a skill that can be learned, or both? Neuroscience research demonstrates that our minds are more empathetic to those who are like us. However, neuroplasticity can help us learn to identify with others and create new brain connections, thus increasing our empathy for others.
Empathy, according to Simon Sinek, is defined as “the ability to recognize and share other people’s feelings.” An enhanced definition that I use is “an