Love, Hate & Everything in Between

Director Alex Gabbay examines the subject of empathy in this thought-provoking documentary. To author Frans de Waal (The Age of Empathy), all mammals share an impulse towards empathy: by helping others, they can help themselves, so it serves a practical purpose. Educator Mary Gordon started the Roots of Empathy program, because she believes that too few people understand what it means, citing President Obama's use of the word, which some pundits criticized as a “sign of weakness." In Gordon's view, children who practice empathy are more likely to contribute to a peaceful society as adults. University of Cambridge psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen (Zero Degrees of Empathy) sees empathy as a product of the imagination, because one person can't know exactly what another is thinking, but can make an attempt. As Baron-Cohen notes, this mental process can be more difficult for those with autism (he adds that “it's not clear that too much empathy ever leads to difficulties"). Theodore Zeldin (An Intimate History of Humanity) takes a sociopolitical tack, arguing that humans don't learn how to empathize from their leaders as much as those with whom they share close relationships. Other speakers look at psychopathology and genocide—situations in which a lack of empathy can lead to dire consequences. This is a rich subject, with references to mirror neurons and neonates, among other terms, that make the documentary well-suited for psychology and sociology students, as well as general viewers who bring a scientific interest to the topic. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)