We don’t all react the same. Extremely sensitive people often feel easily overcome by the sadness or suffering of others. On the other hand, there are those who assume a more pragmatic perspective and better armor themselves against this emotional wave.
There are people who cry at movies and are scared by horror scenes while others assume a more rational perspective and do not feel so emotionally affected. What do these differences depend on?
The brains of rational people differ from those of more emotional people
Neuroscientists at Monash University have discovered that there are physical differences in the brains of people who react emotionally to the feelings of others and those who respond more rationally.
These researchers analyzed the gray matter density of 176 people while assessing their levels of cognitive and affective empathy. Cognitive empathy, also called “limited empathy,” involves understanding the other’s point of view from a fundamentally intellectual perspective. On the other hand, affective empathy involves feeling the feelings of another.
The results showed that people who experienced stronger affective empathy also had greater gray matter density in the insula, a region located right in the “center” of the brain. This structure plays a key role in the perception and regulation of emotions, especially feelings that have a social component, such as empathy, shame, and guilt. In fact, it is involved in the perception and processing of non-verbal social signals, such as facial expression and body language, in addition to being involved in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system.
In contrast, those who showed greater cognitive empathy had a greater density in the middle cingulate cortex, an area that connects the two hemispheres of the brain. This area, in particular, is also essential for making predictions about behavioral outcomes and helping us execute decisions. Furthermore, it intervenes in the cost-benefit assessment processes that underlie the choice of a strategy or action plan.
This means that the brains of the most rational people react differently from those of the most emotional people, prioritizing more cognitive and pragmatic processing that, in a way, keeps emotions at bay to prevent them from taking control and causing an emotional hijacking.
Empathic concern, the ideal middle ground
Empathy is a complex state in which rational and affective aspects often merge. We need to experience what the other person is feeling but, at the same time, we need to understand their motives. In fact, often being overly empathetic leads to what is known as “Hyper-empathy syndrome,” a condition in which the pain of others ends up overwhelming us, so that we hurt ourselves and are unable to help the sufferer.
Empathic concern, on the other hand, is the ability to recognize the emotional states of others and connect emotionally. However, although we may experience some degree of personal distress, we are able to deal with that discomfort and show genuine concern that allows us to help, rather than being paralyzed by overwhelming feelings.
Is it possible to find that middle ground despite the brain configuration?
Of course. The brain can mark the first reaction, but we have the power to develop emotional self-regulation to be able to control these feelings before they overwhelm us or, on the contrary, try to take a closer perspective so as not to limit ourselves to the cognitive level.
The brain is a very malleable organ that is characterized precisely by its flexibility. Being aware of our first reactions will allow us to restrain them to compensate for possible deficiencies or blind spots that lead us to make bad decisions or push us to act in a maladaptive manner. Ultimately, you decide!
Source:
Eres, R. et. Al. (2015) Individual differences in local gray matter density are associated with differences in affective and cognitive empathy. NeuroImage; 117(15): 305-310.
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