Executive summary: A 14,000 or so-student study finds that empathy among students in college today has dropped by 40% since 2000. The "self-esteem" movement and the phenomenon of helicopter parenting/too much planned activity are cited as probable causes for this phenomenon.
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Who else saw this coming?
Jen M.
Scary. Especially to think that these are the people who will be making decisions in the future that affect the elderly. I guess they won't care much!
But I see it in the nursing home - people with little regard for their own family members. Very sad.
I'm not surprised. American culture really doesn't encourage compassion. Just look at the salaries earned by three groups of workers who require similar education; social workers, teachers, and accountants. Despite having educational levels that are similar, only the accountant will have a living wage.
I'm glad she mentioned economic inequality's influence in this. Sounds kind of like Social Darwinism, 21st century style.
Eddy, just a shout out to social workers, we can earn living wage, just depends on what our specialization is. Gerontology, private practice/counseling, and medical earn living wages. Those working in agencies for the impoverished, poor school districts, or aren't LSWs usually don't. However, I do agree that we don't earn as much a accountants even though we generally have master's degrees.
It seems to be a cultural phenomeon, we don't care about others as much as other cultures do, usually the eastern cultures are more empathetic I believe.
Ugh. Just saw my type in the topic title. *embarrased*
I agree: It seems that the industries that would most likely foster a healthy culture are the ones where workers are paid the least. It's all ass-backwards. Koi, thank you for sharing about social worker pay. It's such important work. If it, along with teaching, were better-appreciated, I feel we'd be a much healthier society.
Jen M.
What makes you think I care if you care?