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Posted

I am about halfway listening to Is a lack of empathy immoral? , a Stefan radio clip.  

 

When listening to considerations about empathy, I turned to a mental exercise that I discovered simply by being around enough dogs over a lifetime.

 

What would the dogs do?

 

Dogs are stripped of some of our complexities, yet surely have plotting and ploying skills.  And some real stinkers exist.  But overall, they seem to form easy group bonds.  I was asking myself "what would the dogs do?" in order to see if situational simplifications show up.  It's a modeling exercise.

 

 

I recall another mental test.  When thinking about a psycho-socially confusing situation, I hit mental PAUSE.  I then reverse genders; males replaced by females, and vice versa.  Then PLAY, and sometimes a very potent or clarifying aspect will jump right out.

 

 

I have no conclusions offered here, other than to say that it's a fun way to shine light on a topic.  Might find nothing, but shining lights is fun.

 

Do you have mental tests, models, things you do like what I described above?

Posted

With regards to barriers to empathy, I concentrate on imagining what it would be like to be that person and ask myself, for example "what would it be like if I had her in-laws" and until I actually feel as if I do I don't let go of that question. Having a specific question and concentrating on it, one at a time, until I no longer feel detached from what that person is living through.

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