Today's College Students Lack Empathy

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100528/sc_livescience/todayscollegestudentslackempathy


College students today are less likely to "get" the emotions of others than their counterparts 20 and 30 years ago, a new review study suggests.

Specifically, scored 40 percent lower on a measure of empathy than their elders did.

The findings are based on a review of 72 studies of 14,000 American college students overall conducted between 1979 and 2009.

"We found the biggest drop in empathy after the year 2000," said Sara Konrath, a researcher at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.

The study was presented this week at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science in Boston.

Is "generation me" all about me?

Compared with college students of the late 1970s, are less likely to agree with statements such as "I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective," and "I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me."

"Many people see the current group of college students - sometimes called 'Generation Me' - as one of the most self-centered, narcissistic, competitive, confident and individualistic in recent history," said Konrath, who is also affiliated with the University of Rochester Department of Psychiatry.

Konrath's colleague graduate student Edward O'Brien added, "It's not surprising that this growing emphasis on the self is accompanied by a corresponding devaluation of others."

Other recent studies have shown mixed results on the character of today's youth. For instance, one study of more than 450,000 high-school seniors born at different time periods showed today's youth are no more self-centered than their parents were at their age.
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This is a huge problem, the places of higher education have becoming a breeding ground for these people, and the sad thing they'll be soon entering our workforce, and soon influcening others with their cynicalism.

Something needs to be done.
 
Dont blame them, blame society because thats who fucks everything up.

Society teaches us that no one matters, unless of course your a celeberity or politician. And even those people society looks up ends up getting bored with them and only caring about when bad things happen to them.

Society is all about everyone being selfish and making themselves happy, no one encourages or teaches people we need to work together. Especially in these times everything is about being cold and self centered. People want to eat cheeseburgers, watch tivo, get whatever they can as easy as they can, surf the net and thats it. Even things like the government only care about whats going on right now, no one looks to the future or what we can do as a society. All americans care about is what is involving just them at that paticullar moment. Thats why most people when someone needs help just keep on going.
 
[quote name='gargus']Dont blame them, blame society because thats who fucks everything up.

Society teaches us that no one matters, unless of course your a celeberity or politician. And even those people society looks up ends up getting bored with them and only caring about when bad things happen to them.

Society is all about everyone being selfish and making themselves happy, no one encourages or teaches people we need to work together. Especially in these times everything is about being cold and self centered. People want to eat cheeseburgers, watch tivo, get whatever they can as easy as they can, surf the net and thats it. Even things like the government only care about whats going on right now, no one looks to the future or what we can do as a society. All americans care about is what is involving just them at that paticullar moment. Thats why most people when someone needs help just keep on going.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't say all Americans are like that. I would say that the young ones are heading in that direction but hopefully they will mature. We are still the most charitable country in the world, and whenever a disaster such as Katrina, or the oil spill occurs thousands of Americans leave their comfortable lives to help. I think it is unfair to say that because Americans enjoy the comforts of being an American that it means we are evil and self centered.

The empathy article is right though, college students are a bunch of self centered bastards.
 
[quote name='knoell']i wouldn't say all americans are like that. I would say that the young ones are heading in that direction but hopefully they will mature. We are still the most charitable country in the world, and whenever a disaster such as katrina, or the oil spill occurs thousands of americans leave their comfortable lives to help. i think it is unfair to say that because americans enjoy the comforts of being an american that it means we are evil and self centered.

the empathy article is right though, college students are a bunch of self centered bastards.[/quote]


this.
 
[quote name='Knoell']I wouldn't say all Americans are like that. I would say that the young ones are heading in that direction but hopefully they will mature. We are still the most charitable country in the world, and whenever a disaster such as Katrina, or the oil spill occurs thousands of Americans leave their comfortable lives to help. I think it is unfair to say that because Americans enjoy the comforts of being an American that it means we are evil and self centered.

The empathy article is right though, college students are a bunch of self centered bastards.[/QUOTE]

Well I would say the vast majority are.

We are chairtable because our country because we love to do stuff that makes us feel good about ourselves. "Yes I walked a mile for cancer Im so awesome!" or donate shit they wouldnt do unless they could write off on their taxes, I guarntee if you couldnt write off donations of money or good 1/2 of people wouldnt do it anymore. Or going to help with the oil spill is again a temporary thing because they will help till they get bored and leave. MOst americans dont care enough or have enough of a attention span to actually do something that will make real change. We like our quick temporary fixes but no one does anything that will actually make an impact because it takes sacrifice, time, pain and energy. Thats why when our society doesnt like something we declare war on it and after a year or so nothing has changed and the campaign is long gone.

And yes thousands helped, out of MILLIONS. according to usnews.com 2010 population in the united states is little over 308 million, a couple thousand out of that is peanuts, its nothing. There are a thousand thousands in just 1 million.

And no americans arent evil for enjoying the comforts of america, your putting words in my mouth now so you can sound like your right, I didnt say that. I said thats what most of us want is to just continue our daily lives and not have to leave our little sheltered lives.

Whole point I was making is our society fostsers the mentality of not giving a shit about anyone else and its only getting worse.

Hate to (well no I dont hate it) tell you but not just college students are self centered bastards. Thats pointing at a demographic that is unfair. Because poor ass black kids in cities dont care about anyone either, neither does the wallstreet rich hotshot, nor does the kid working at mcdonalds. And like I said, dont blame the college kids blame society and their parents.

See you tell me I cant blame all americans, but you also turn around and blame all college kids. You cant have it both ways you know.
 
But you're blaming higher education as the social institution that breeds self-centeredness and smashes empathy?

That's entirely contrary to the right-wing nutjob talking point that higher education is a bastion for socialists, communists, and secret left-wing conspiracy claims. I thought the job of higher education, to folks like you, was to make people soft, pasty intellectuals who have sympathy and concern for the well-being of their fellow man (much to your chagrin).
 
[quote name='mykevermin']But you're blaming higher education as the social institution that breeds self-centeredness and smashes empathy?

That's entirely contrary to the right-wing nutjob talking point that higher education is a bastion for socialists, communists, and secret left-wing conspiracy claims. I thought the job of higher education, to folks like you, was to make people soft, pasty intellectuals who have sympathy and concern for the well-being of their fellow man (much to your chagrin).[/QUOTE]

To a point. You should have those traits to a point, not completley throw it out the window.
 
You're not answering the question - do you believe higher ed is the institution that destroys empathy as you claim in the OP, or do you believe it's a tool of the vast left-wing conspiracy to breed a new generation of empathetic communists?

Certainly can't be both.
 
do you believe it's a tool of the vast left-wing conspiracy to breed a new generation of empathetic communists?
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This, but not the conspiracy part. Also, this article is very black & white, it's not referring to all college students (Juco's included).
 
I was going to say that this contradicts what you've stated before in this forum, but myke beat me to it anyway. How's that dissonance? Does it feel good?
 
[quote name='SpazX']I was going to say that this contradicts what you've stated before in this forum, but myke beat me to it anyway. How's that dissonance? Does it feel good?[/QUOTE]

Huge difference. These kids obviously aren't going to accomplish their goal of Communist/Green Party Utopia, so the fact that they are entering coporate america and the general populace is concering.
 
[quote name='Rex_Banner']This, but not the conspiracy part. Also, this article is very black & white, it's not referring to all college students (Juco's included).[/QUOTE]

So you're disagreeing with the scientific findings of the psychiatry dept. What evidence do you have to counter the results of a scientific study?
 
[quote name='Rex_Banner']Huge difference. These kids obviously aren't going to accomplish their goal of Communist/Green Party Utopia, so the fact that they are entering coporate america and the general populace is concering.[/QUOTE]

What's the huge difference?

They aren't going to accomplish what they don't want because they're not empathetic apparently. Corporate America now is so very empathetic that I also fear these cynical bastards corrupting it.
 
[quote name='SpazX']What's the huge difference?

They aren't going to accomplish what they don't want because they're not empathetic apparently. Corporate America now is so very empathetic that I also fear these cynical bastards corrupting it.[/QUOTE]


Why do you have a problem with that?
 
One, I bet the test or poll whatever they did to measure this is as scientific as divining rods.

Two, just accepting it at face value the very decent chance of graduating with crushing debt and no job prospects would make anyone feel like that.
 
[quote name='gargus']Well I would say the vast majority are.

We are chairtable because our country because we love to do stuff that makes us feel good about ourselves. "Yes I walked a mile for cancer Im so awesome!" or donate shit they wouldnt do unless they could write off on their taxes, I guarntee if you couldnt write off donations of money or good 1/2 of people wouldnt do it anymore. Or going to help with the oil spill is again a temporary thing because they will help till they get bored and leave. MOst americans dont care enough or have enough of a attention span to actually do something that will make real change. We like our quick temporary fixes but no one does anything that will actually make an impact because it takes sacrifice, time, pain and energy. Thats why when our society doesnt like something we declare war on it and after a year or so nothing has changed and the campaign is long gone.

And yes thousands helped, out of MILLIONS. according to usnews.com 2010 population in the united states is little over 308 million, a couple thousand out of that is peanuts, its nothing. There are a thousand thousands in just 1 million.

And no americans arent evil for enjoying the comforts of america, your putting words in my mouth now so you can sound like your right, I didnt say that. I said thats what most of us want is to just continue our daily lives and not have to leave our little sheltered lives.

Whole point I was making is our society fostsers the mentality of not giving a shit about anyone else and its only getting worse.

Hate to (well no I dont hate it) tell you but not just college students are self centered bastards. Thats pointing at a demographic that is unfair. Because poor ass black kids in cities dont care about anyone either, neither does the wallstreet rich hotshot, nor does the kid working at mcdonalds. And like I said, dont blame the college kids blame society and their parents.

See you tell me I cant blame all americans, but you also turn around and blame all college kids. You cant have it both ways you know.[/QUOTE]

Sigh, What could you have done to help someone in need rather than post these two posts? You are a heartless bastard for putting time into this rather than putting it into contributing something to society.

Sigh again for you not understanding my point. My point was not that all college kids are self centered or that no adults are self centered, but I would argue that a higher proportion of high school to college kids do not give a crap about anyone else more than middle aged to the elderly. Do you know why that is?

The study should have compared todays college students to the ones in the 1970's, and also compared the other age groups to the ones in the 1970's. I think the problem is not society as a whole but the way we are raising our children.
 
You know what? I have done a lot for other people for my entire life and if I had to come up with a figure, I'd say that 75% of the time, that help and those sacrifices have either gone wholly unappreciated and/or I haven't had the favor repaid when I need help. I do not expect anything in return for helping someone, but when I do need help from that person, they should be willing to do for me what I did for them. Hell, half the time, I even get fucked over by those who I have helped.

Basically, those who are looking out for themselves are the smart ones. I've tried adopting that attitude (not treating others poorly but putting myself first) but I guess I don't have it in me.
 
As others have said, has nothing to do with higher education. Our society as a whole has gotten more apathetic and individualistic which of course leads to a decline in empathy.

And I'm as guilty of it as anyone as I'm a very self focused person. I'll make the occasional donation when there's a major natural disaster etc, as I do at least feel some small obligation to help those who truly can't help themselves to some minor extent. Otherwise, my charitable activities are largely limited to dropping crap I don't need/want any more off at goodwill every time I move.

Now that excludes close family, significant other, my small circle of closest friends etc. as I'd do anything for them.

All that's a big reason I support social programming funded with tax dollars. I just see no way such programs could be funded nation wide at the level they are with only private funds. I know I'd never donate what I pay in taxes, I donate a little and turn the rest toward paying my debts down and building savings.
 
Also, homeless people can really hack away at my desire to help others. The ones here in LA can be very aggressive, even demanding you put money in their cup or they won't allow you to pass. Apparently, they want a bed so badly that they're willing to go to the hospital to get one after somebody knocks them the fuck out for stepping in front of them as they try to walk.

Honestly, when I have money, I will give a homeless person a little bit. I even had a friend who was homeless who I'd let stay at my house for days at a time and feed him. We're still friends; he's just no longer homeless. He's one of the nicest, most honest guys I know. But fuck the homeless people who get aggressive and angry. And every damn one of them thinks you're lying if you say you don't have any money. I hardly ever carry cash. What the fuck do they want me to do- take them to an ATM?
 
Well homeless people, like all people, contain a huge subset of assholes. And also, just like other people, a lot of them are in LA :p.
 
Yeah, I don't give money to homeless people begging. We have an annual charity campaign at my university where employees are strongly encouraged to donate. I always pick one of the local homeless shelters for my donation there. I figure that $100 or so does more good than giving pocket change--which just further encourages aggressive panhandling.

Some places in Atlanta have put up little homeless meters basically with signs encouraging people to make donations in them rather than giving change to beggars.
 
I think it's best to pull up Maslow's pyramid on this one, that it's tough to knit together a community feeling when basic needs aren't being met. College kids back in the 1970s could probably choose to live in a commune if they wanted to, but today the low-overhead lifestyle is not the norm. People seem expected to take on the debt of higher education, the house mortgage, to burn the candle at all three ends pretty much.

Another thing is that requiring a two income family puts a big damper on half our population's ability to volunteer--women used to be able to do this more.
 
I agree with Indigo. My wife and I are burned out after working full time + call + extra shifts. It would be much harder to live comfortably on just one of our salaries.
 
I'd agree with that as well. And it also ties into lack of empathy, lack of support for social programs, the health care bill etc.

Many more families are two people both working full time or above and they thus feel that if others want insurance etc. etc. they can do the same and bust ass themselves.
 
National health care, at least in my mind, shows the biggest lack of empathy today. So many people either refuse to empathize or just simply choose to ignore it. They hide behind libertarian principles like they are a shield from having to empathize with someone.

This certainly isn't confined to college students.
 
[quote name='Indigo_Streetlight']I think it's best to pull up Maslow's pyramid on this one, that it's tough to knit together a community feeling when basic needs aren't being met. College kids back in the 1970s could probably choose to live in a commune if they wanted to, but today the low-overhead lifestyle is not the norm. People seem expected to take on the debt of higher education, the house mortgage, to burn the candle at all three ends pretty much.

Another thing is that requiring a two income family puts a big damper on half our population's ability to volunteer--women used to be able to do this more.[/QUOTE]

Well, I would say what people did financially in the past and what people do now are two different things. Today, people in general live well beyond their means. They are taking out loans for things they can't afford, they view the credit card as a savings account, and they don't match what they take out in student loans in relation to future earning power and what they legitimately need to take out. This is all on top of the fact that people can't read the fucking fine print.

I'm almost out of college, I took out over $12,000 in student loans...but I paid all but $2000 off which will be paid off before graduation. I have over $11,000 in access to consumer credit cards, yet I never carry a balance. I have a savings account that has a couple thousand in it, and my checking account has all the nice premium features people like with no fees (thank you Ally!).

My point? Shit happens in life, but if people would live within their means and use some common sense, they wouldn't be so bad off. Low overhead lifestyle has some serious perks lol :p I'm sure I'm not the only CAG that does this lol

(end rant) :D So I agree wholeheardtly. :lol:
 
So it's not just me...

Finding a steady, reliable group of friends to last you all throughout college is difficult if you don't join a club or a frat/sorority.

They hide behind libertarian principles like they are a shield from having to empathize with someone.
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It also doesn't help that the scare of socialism permeating our country leads to this individualist thinking. Offering a fair chance to everyone, that's the principle behind socialism and any opposition to that can be seen as lacking empathy.
 
Socialism is the new scary buzzword, I think most people throw it out with no understanding of what it is or what they're even saying.
 
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