I can’t help but ponder the great question of why people are so mean to each other.
It is nothing new but it seems like we could have evolved into nicer people by now. We’re a long way from Eden.
I read everything I can about sociology and relationships. I am a believer that what affects others affects me. Conversely, what affects me affects others. Today I read an article about an experiment by psychological scientists Simone Schnall from the University of Cambridge, Jean Roper from the University of Plymouth, and Daniel M.T. Fessler from the University of California, Los Angeles to test whether people are “elevated” to altruistic action by witnessing someone doing a kindness for another.
After the experiment was completed the authors concluded that “by eliciting elevation, even brief exposure to other individuals’ pro-social behavior motivates altruism, thus potentially providing an avenue for increasing the general level of pro-sociality in society.”
I’ve always suspected that the way we treat others can determine how we are treated. Tone of voice, facial expression and choice of words determine the responses we get. On a blog, all we have are words. History has proven the value of the written word and its power over the present and future. Words are our tools to communicate ideas or weapons to shut each other down. It is possible to express differences without condemning each other for our dissimilar views. Rational communication can enlighten and perhaps open some mutual ground for agreement.
Given the results of the ‘elevation’ study, I’m pretty sure if we all became more civil with each other, we might truly hear each other. We might even accomplish something positive together, for the good of all.”
Copper Rain
Henderson