All this talk lately about empathy often characterized the ability as a very good thing. I say it is an excellent capability to have but its uses can be for good or mischief. Many cunning criminals and manipulative politicians can very effectively read and understand other people. When asked if I want my friends to have empathy, I responded, "Depends on how they're using it." Empathy is neutral until acted upon.
Stress too can be used in beneficial or destructive ways. In a previous post, I wrote:
In some circles, stress seems to get a bad name but lawyers need stress, good stress, to be successful. This good stress is called eustress. Yes, stress is implicated as a factor in poor health. Stress is also a factor in successful performance and is a necessary ingredient in a job well done.
Recent research indicates that stress may improve working memory. From "Working Memory May Be Improved By Short Stressful Events" (Medical News Today):
"Stress hormones have both protective and damaging effects on the body," said Zhen Yan, professor of physiology and biophysics at UB and senior author on the study. "This paper and others we have in the pipeline explain why we need stress to perform better, but don't want to be stressed out."
Also recently heard and read, hormone oxytocin being highly touted (e.g., "Bringing Oxytocin in The Room" from mediate.com) for its role in such emotion as trust, loyalty, and collaboration. New research may show that not only positive emotions are promoted by oxytocin. The research was described in "Goody-Goody Hormone Now Linked to Envy, Gloating" (Scientific American):
The researchers suggest oxytocin might promote the intensity of social emotions in general, leading to more generosity and trust in positive contexts and more envy and gloating in competitive situations. ...
Psychologist Beate Ditzen at the University of Zurich, who did not participate in this study, notes this work does show that oxytocin does not have solely positive effects in humans.
Just some more reminders to use caution when we hear people saying empathy and oxytocin are great, and stress is bad. Yes, . . . and no. Were life only that simple that we could categorize it into neat little boxes.
Note (added August 29, 2009): The two faces of oxytocin: Why does the 'tend and befriend' hormone come into play at the best and worst of times? (APAOnline's Monitor on Psychology).
Note (added November 17, 2009): "Love and Envy Linked by Same Hormone, Oxytocin" (Science Daily).
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