Police Brutality

In one of my previous post had mentioned about the officers who were killed for doing their job, you can read it here.

Today I look at the other end. I am disturbed, aghast at the misuse of power. Power corrupts. It probably also numbs our empathy. Look at the video below to understand what i am talking about...

Where does such brutality come from? What happens to our brain under pressure? What happens to all the rational thoughts when confronted? 

Have heard and read about more brutal and heinous acts by people in power. There is no justification whatsoever for such brutal acts. 

Empathy gets killed as one tastes power for a long period. 

If i have to feel empathy for the police force what would it take? Are they frustrated to such extent in their job? Do they feel powerless and helpless most of the time as they have to deal with criminals and corrupt politicians? 

Guess they are under great stress for not being able to do their duty. All police officers probably join to help the society. To get rid of the ills and keep crime away. But soon they realize the difference between what they aspired to do and what they can probably do. Few try to be upright and fight the criminalization of the system but end up as martyrs. Few smart ones probably balance the act. I am conjuring all this !!

But the majority are underpaid, frustrated and hate themselves for not being true to their dreams. They loathe themselves for being corrupt. This frustration is let out on the hapless beings like women and children.

Let me reiterate, whatever may be the reason, they do not have the right to trample the rights of another human being. Brutality of any degree is unacceptable from anybody on anybody.

How do we build a society which feels and shows compassion? How do we ensure empathy is converted into concrete actions?

How do we educate ourselves and our children that under pressure, under attack we are not to hurt the helpless, weak. If we have to win battles, it is to be against the strong. 

Empathy And Anger

Many have written about empathy and anger. Emotions which come to us periodically. As a believer in evolutionary biology, i consider, every human quirk, emotion is to help her/him in survival. We get angry when we are not treated fairly, when we get deceived, when we get insulted and conflicts either external or internal of any nature. Anger displayed helps us to get  attention and reaction. This attention and reaction can lead to a correction of events resulting in justice and fairness. This can help one get the needed resources for survival of self and progeny.

Empathy is the other face of the same coin. It helps us to relate and feel the pain of the sufferer. It helps us to understand the situation, circumstances and possibly the suffering of the individual.

How does one become a person with empathy?

What circumstances lead to the development of empathy?

Why empathy is required? Why is it not universal?

When should one employ empathy?

Perspective taking is considering the view point of others without emotional component.

It would be too tempting and romantic to say that we need more empathy in the world. Cultural, religious animosity can be better handled if the capacity for empathy is increased. But in this world there is increasing tendency to view empathy as a weapon of weak person.

Also as empathy is not something which is unlimited in its supply. Empathy like will power is limited and one needs to use it judiciously. Of course being humans one needs to work constantly on increasing the capacity for empathy.
The world has changed in large measure. Developing and deploying empathy should not put one at a survival disadvantage. Theory of abundance!

Anger, the much more common emotion, found everywhere creates regret more than satisfaction. It is a difficult task to master the art of using anger effectively. We burn ourselves and others when we get angry.

What is the best way to cope with anger?

How does one deal with an angry individual?

How does one empathize with an angry person?

What can one do to eliminate or master the emotion of anger?

Is anger more common in individuals who blame others for results, situations? Is anger a manifestation of helplessness in a situation? Does anger subside when harm is inflicted on the opponent?

I have only raised questions rather than answering any.

Few things which i did learn as i was reading about empathy and anger are as below:

1. Empathetic engagement in patient care leads to improved patient outcomes. http://www.themindfulorganization.com/empathy_and_health_care.pdf

2. Very little is known about the neural circuitry of anger. Lack of serotonin can make one more prone to anger as well as suicide!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18578600
www.med.or.jp/english/journal/pdf/2009_03/184_190.pdf

3. "Mirror neurons" found in our frontal cortex could be responsible for empathy.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/do_mirror_neurons_give_empathy

Peer Pressure and Empathy

50% Genetics, 50% Environment. A very generalized way of striking balance between nature and nurture. It is important to be in the right ecosystem. Sometimes the ecosystem can bring about bad things also, like Lance Armstrong!

Stumbled upon this book, How Peer Pressure Can Transform The World, need to read it.

For those interested in reading how empathy, McDonalds and passion for efficiency has changed eye care, read this..Arvind.