Study shows the rich do not respond to the distress signals of others

[Sarah Ibarruri]

http://www.futurity.org/top-stories/bah-humbug-rich-slower-to-show-empathy/

A study published in the journal Emotion finds that individuals in the upper-middle and upper classes are less able to detect and respond to the distress signals of others. Overall, the results indicate that socioeconomic status correlates with the level of empathy and compassion that people show in the face of emotionally charged situations.

“It’s not that the upper classes are coldhearted,” says lead author Jennifer Stellar, a social psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley. “They may just not be as adept at recognizing the cues and signals of suffering because they haven’t had to deal with as many obstacles in their lives.”

(the rest of the article is at the link above)

[csziggy]

1. That fits with the study that Botox users are less empathetic!

I don't have the link since it was at least six months ago I saw it, but there was a study that showed people who had Botox treatments, especially to the face, were less able to respond to other people's problems. One theory why was that when you sympathize with people, you mirror their expressions. If your facial muscles are paralyzed with Botox, you cannot do that mirroring that may trigger the sympathetic reaction.

Since some people are taught to not show expression, that could also reduce their ability to empathize with others.

[DesertFlower]

8. i've been using botox for years

and i'm extremely empathetic. i only use it in my forehead and around the crows feet.

[csziggy]

11. I would bet that you were empathetic before you began useing Botox

With people that use it from an early age and that were not already empathetic, I imagine that it can impair learning to be empathetic.

[DesertFlower]

12. it has nothing to do with your feelings.

what botox does is paralyze the muscles so you can't frown -- thus you don't have an angry look.

i've always been empathetic.

[chrisa]

28. Botox is a toxin produced by bacteria, I believe.

It is called an "alpha toxin" or something like that, and what is does is prevent muscles from working properly (the receptors on the muscle are prevented from 'firing,' making it so the muscle can't move anymore). Someone will correct me on this.

It doesn't effect anything neurological. It only affects the face muscles of the area is it inserted.

[cthulu2016]

2. “It’s not that the upper classes are coldhearted...”

Or maybe they are. This needs to be combined with that other study from a few months ago that found that the rich are less generous and don't give a damn about the problems of others.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

21. So true. So studies show they're less generous and less empathetic...

Is there any reason to see the rich in a positive light? I don't see any reason at all.

[AdHocSolver]

3. Study shows lions do not respond to distress signals of elands and zebras.

A majority of the wealthy, like most predators, do not feel sympathy toward their prey.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

22. Excellent point! nt

[Sedona]

4. this is the definition of cold hearted

“They may just not be as adept at recognizing the cues and signals of suffering because they haven’t had to deal with as many obstacles in their lives.”

[Sarah Ibarruri]

20. It's an elegant way of saying, "they don't care a rat's ass." nt

[pansypoo53219]

5. or they don't fucking care.

nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. Apparently not. nt

[WCGreen]

6. Well, that explains my sister buying a Porshe SUV for what ever god know what price while I drive

around town in a rusted old van that my BIL's ex wife gave me for free....

[DesertFlower]

9. my husband drives a porsche. he's 64 years

old and worked his entire life -- still works at age 64.

he didn't go into debt to buy it and it hasn't effected our charitable contributions or how we feel about those less fortunate.

and no we're not part of the 1 percent.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

15. How do you deal with her? And why is she driving that? nt

[Kalidurga]

7. I guess that is why a payroll tax cut for workers is bad...

but reducing taxes on money that makes money is good...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. Yep! nt

[LiberalAndProud]

10. They may just view those less fortunate as "the other".

We are not like them. They simply cannot relate. I wonder what a study toward measuring empathetic reactions to others from their own class might look like in comparison.

I'll go read the link now. Perhaps it will change my mind about the root causes of the obvious lack of empathy.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. I'll bet the rich have more empathy for others of their own kind.

I'm curious if the study will change your mind about the causes of this empathy.

I personally think it's a series of things:

(1) Discrimination against the poor. Conservatives and right wingers tend to despise the poor, because they hold firmly to a myth that those who are poor are slothful. They spend their lives promoting the myth that the poor are somehow evil.

(2) There are certain Protestant religions in the U.S. that believe the poor are poor because they deserve to be for their sins.

(3) The wealthy who would customarily feel guilt for their ostentatiousness rid themselves of the guilt by imagining that they, somehow, are deserving, while the poor are not.

(4) The wealthy who inherited, obtained their wealth through corrupt means, or have almost outright stolen it, justify their having wealth by making someone else 'the bad guy:' in this case, the poor becomes the object of their abhorrence.

Just my opinion.

[Curmudgeoness]

18. I think that they are just cold-hearted, not

just because they are not like them. I am not like a cat or dog, they really are "the others", but if they are hurting, I am hurting.

I don't buy it that they just cannot relate----they just choose not to.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

24. They choose not to, and that might show up in studies, maybe? nt

[Bigmack]

16. That's because there is a high percentage of sociopaths among them....

AynRandian sociopaths.

"Individuals with this disorder have little regard for the
feeling and welfare of others."

Many of the rich are simply high-functioning sociopaths.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

25. That's basically what I think. nt

[Initech]

19. They needed a study for this??

[Sarah Ibarruri]

27. I guess it brings the point home. nt

[sakabatou]

23. This just in: water is wet

[Sarah Ibarruri]

26. yup! I know. nt