College Kids Lacking Empathy, Study Says

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As a member of the college student generation, I have no real way to gauge how people acted before, but I do see the selfishness of those around me. I can't say whether or not young people are less empathetic than older generations, but I can say that if we are, then it's because of how we were raised.
We live in a consumer society. We see bad things on the news, but TV doesn't really hit home as reality because it's easy to turn off. Even the news has commercials. Basically: it's easier not to care. It's easier to just keep buying gas and nevermind the oil spill or those who's homes were destroyed in order to obtain the oil in the first place, it's easier to keep shopping at Walmart and forget the starving people that made many of the things we buy. Why care about killing bees when being popular and talking on your cell phone is more immediately rewarding? There is more to distract us from the human situation now than ever before.
If we are less empathetic, it's because our parents raised us this way. Our grandparent's generation lived during the great depression; they were used to not having much, and worked hard to buy our parents everything they wanted. Our parents did the same and now here we are, used to having everything and not appreciating where it came from. Not to sound cliche, but that is exactly where the corporations want us: buying, buying, buying and not caring who made our goods for us or what had to die to feed us. As long as they get our money, they don't care who's body (or soul) is damaged in the process.
Luckily, there are grassroots movements within many communities in America today. They are led by those who haven't forgotten they are human.

Wilson of VA 5:03PM May 05, 2011

College is very far ahead in the process of developing empathy. Such issues are best dealt at formative age of childhood and adolescence.
In India these days, even school students lack empathy. One of the main reasons as cited by parents is the addictive nature of internet. Students spend hours on computers playing games. They just do not want to step outside and converse with people. Some of the parents even complain that their kids don't talk to them also.
Also as is mentioned in one of the comments that kids learn these things from parents. Gap is experienced there as well. Education system is not helping either. They just don't focus on developing these skills. But things are changing and hope that the pace of the change is fast enough so as not to roll out empathy-less generation.

Learning Lounge 10:21AM May 31, 2010

I found great humor in one post above that partially blames politics for the current problems among our spoiled young adults. He/she then goes on to force their politics into the comment. Perhaps a look into a mirror will reveal part of the problem you mentioned.
You also stated that the middle class has been swallowed up by debt as if "debt" is some horrible creature roaming the earth feeding on a particular economic class of people. Irresponsible behavior lead to the debt you mention. They are not victims, rather their own worst enemy.

Jake Valentine of CA 5:20PM May 30, 2010

Generally, children reflect their parents and the parenting they got from them. I call it the "entitlement generation". Society has focused too much on individual rights and happiness over the last 40 years at the expense of social order and socially productive behaviors such as a seeing things from the other's point of view. The one universal moral truth for all cultures seems to be the Golden Rule. But, how can we do unto others as we would want them to do unto us if we can't get outside of our individualistic obsessiveness?

Michael of CA 2:21PM May 30, 2010

Young adults are simply a reflection of our culture. Both parents worked full time, were too tired to be emotionally available, and divorced over money and sex with blind ignorance to the devastation reeked on their children. Individuals relocate hundreds or thousands of miles for education, training, and employment. Past concepts of community and families have been willfully disrupted by individual moves for economic gain. Business, government, and politics require actors and chameleons whose appearance on a 10 second media clip is far more valued than honesty, talent and experience. Social media allows for personal isolation with hundreds of electronic ‘friends.’ The middle class has been swallowed by debt. There’s a growing chasm between the extremely wealthy and the other 99 % of people.
The most influential factor in the loss of empathy is the acceptance of our culture of one-sided extremist shock jock media, business, and politics. The GOP has been split by these phenomena and is now “The Party of Me.” Young adults are convinced they will be losers if they do not embrace this culture of selfishness that has replaced democracy in the US.

Wordy of CA 10:56AM May 30, 2010

Does empathy among college students vary by region, sex, ethnicity, family income, religion, etc?
Grouping students by age is sort of interesting and sort of not.

Mrs. Hume of TX 5:23PM May 29, 2010

this generation rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tk of OR 3:49AM May 29, 2010

Don't call my name, don't call my name, Alejandro. Norge er beste!

Aaronsson of WA 11:03PM May 28, 2010

I really don't care about this or anything

Joe Smtih of NJ 9:46PM May 28, 2010

It's sex, drugs and lady gaga. Really it's simple...parents became lazy, and instead of discipline gave their kids anything they wanted. It's a "have everything generation" problem...
Just like spoiled brats could care less about anything and anyone...just themselves.
We need some real poverty in this country to fix the issue...make people worry about where the next meal is coming from rather than themselves. People bond when they can't eat.

Uncle Sam of FL 9:23PM May 28, 2010