Wow. Isn't it amazing that even when we're trying to get to the same point, we disagree? ;)
*insert joke about Jews and arguing here*
Anyway. We're certainly created (or born) with the capacity to develop empathy. But I think psychological research has consistently shown that empathy itself is learned over many years. It's a gradual process; an 8-year-old may have some ability to recognize others as having emotions and to feel bad when they do, but her empathic abilities will not be nearly as developed as a 12-year-old's (who in turn will be worse off than a 16-year-old, etc).
Toddlers usually do empathic acts because they've been taught to, and/or to gain a reward, IMO.
Yes, but this goes into our previous discussion and is more general rather than specifically relating to the story, so I thought this wasn't the place to go into it.
Like that's ever stopped us before. :p
[T]houghts on the US Open?
Rafa's loss is really felt, isn't it? Even if we get a Djokovic/Murray final (and if Djokovic keeps playing like crap there's a distinct possibility Ferrer will win), it isn't going to be nearly as exciting as Djokovic/Nadal was last year. Well, almost everything is breaking Murray's way now; honestly, if he can't win now, I'm going back to doubting he'll ever win a Major. He can't count on facing none of the Big 3 to win one. And Fed lost to Berdych in a Major QF once before, so yeah that wasn't super surprising.
(Just imagine if Ferrer manages to win the whole thing? It's not going to happen obviously, but man would that make the whole tournament worthwhile.)
Azarenka has been engaged in some real good matches, hasn't she? Same with Sharapova. Serena has been just crushing her competition of course, and while I expect Vika'll give her a challenge Serena will only lose if she plays at less than 100%. Which is always a risk for her, but I think she really wants this one, almost as much as she wanted the Olympics.
no subject
*insert joke about Jews and arguing here*
Anyway. We're certainly created (or born) with the capacity to develop empathy. But I think psychological research has consistently shown that empathy itself is learned over many years. It's a gradual process; an 8-year-old may have some ability to recognize others as having emotions and to feel bad when they do, but her empathic abilities will not be nearly as developed as a 12-year-old's (who in turn will be worse off than a 16-year-old, etc).
Toddlers usually do empathic acts because they've been taught to, and/or to gain a reward, IMO.
Yes, but this goes into our previous discussion and is more general rather than specifically relating to the story, so I thought this wasn't the place to go into it.
Like that's ever stopped us before. :p
[T]houghts on the US Open?
Rafa's loss is really felt, isn't it? Even if we get a Djokovic/Murray final (and if Djokovic keeps playing like crap there's a distinct possibility Ferrer will win), it isn't going to be nearly as exciting as Djokovic/Nadal was last year. Well, almost everything is breaking Murray's way now; honestly, if he can't win now, I'm going back to doubting he'll ever win a Major. He can't count on facing none of the Big 3 to win one. And Fed lost to Berdych in a Major QF once before, so yeah that wasn't super surprising.
(Just imagine if Ferrer manages to win the whole thing? It's not going to happen obviously, but man would that make the whole tournament worthwhile.)
Azarenka has been engaged in some real good matches, hasn't she? Same with Sharapova. Serena has been just crushing her competition of course, and while I expect Vika'll give her a challenge Serena will only lose if she plays at less than 100%. Which is always a risk for her, but I think she really wants this one, almost as much as she wanted the Olympics.