# 7650 Assignment 7 Jethro Jones also available online at [drjethro.com](https://drjethro.com/7650assign7) ## Assignment Directions [In Zaki's talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DspKSYxYDM) What do you find powerful? What caused you to think a bit differently? ## Assignment I've trained an AI chatbot to understand my work history and my work ideas. I gave it the transcript of the video and asked it to write a report based on the questions you gave it. Below is the final result. My original comments follow at the bottom. Feel free to skip down. As a note regarding time spent, AI may be faster at some things, but I would have been satisfied with a shorter response (as you can see below) and would have done only that, if not for my morbid curiosity about AI. [Here's my chat transcript](https://chatgpt.com/share/67d8e519-40b0-800f-86b6-084f998192c7) if you're also curious. I'll also reiterate that this submitting a chat transcript is a silly requirement and a waste of everybody's time. Surely you're not wasting your time going to everybody's submitted chat transcripts to see what they did (if they are even submitting a transcript). A better approach would be to examine how we can use AI and compare and contrast it in our work. Surely we will be the last (or first) folks to not use (or use) AI to write a large portion of our dissertations. To be honest, I can't imagine not using AI to do a lot of my day-to-day work and the benefit is that once it is trained a certain way, it can do a good enough job in a lot of areas. # **Empathy and Its Development: A Reflection on Jamil Zaki’s TEDx Talk** ## **Introduction** Empathy is often considered an inherent trait—something individuals either possess or lack. However, in his TEDx talk, *We’re Experiencing an Empathy Shortage, but We Can Fix It Together*, Jamil Zaki challenges this assumption, presenting empathy as a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time (Zaki, 2019). This perspective aligns closely with Positive Intelligence (PQ), which emphasizes mental fitness and the ability to rewire the brain for positive and constructive thinking. This report will explore two powerful insights from Zaki’s talk, followed by two thought-provoking challenges that encourage deeper reflection. ## **Powerful Insights** ### **Empathy is a Skill, Not a Fixed Trait** One of the most compelling ideas presented in Zaki’s talk is that empathy is not an unchangeable characteristic but rather a skill that can be cultivated. Traditionally, many assume that individuals have a predetermined level of empathy, much like their height or eye color. However, research and personal experiences suggest otherwise. Zaki compares the development of empathy to physical exercise, implying that, like a muscle, empathy can be strengthened with intentional practice (Zaki, 2019). This concept aligns with the principles of Positive Intelligence, which emphasize shifting from *Saboteur-driven* reactions, such as judgment and avoidance, to *Sage-driven* actions, such as curiosity and compassion. Just as individuals can train themselves to respond more positively to challenges through mental fitness exercises, they can also train themselves to become more empathic in their interactions with others. This insight challenges the notion of empathy as a static trait and instead presents it as an active skill that can be developed over time. ### **Empathy is a Renewable Resource** Another powerful takeaway from Zaki’s talk is the idea that empathy, despite its perceived decline in society, can be restored. He describes a noticeable drop in empathy scores over the past few decades, a concerning trend in an increasingly polarized world. However, rather than accepting this decline as inevitable, Zaki offers hope: empathy is a renewable resource that can be regrown with effort and intentionality (Zaki, 2019). This idea is significant because it suggests that societal and individual changes are possible. Much like Positive Intelligence training helps individuals shift from negative thought patterns to positive ones, intentional practice in empathy can reverse its decline. By actively choosing to engage with others' perspectives, even in difficult situations, individuals and communities can foster greater understanding and emotional connection. This perspective is particularly empowering because it suggests that empathy is not lost forever but rather something that requires consistent effort to maintain and rebuild. ## **Challenges to Consider** ### **Empathy is Most Difficult When It Is Most Necessary** While many people claim to be highly empathic, Zaki challenges this assumption by highlighting that empathy is often abandoned in moments of conflict. He provides an example from politics, describing how individuals frequently disengage from those they disagree with or even take pleasure in their opponents’ struggles. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in today’s highly divided social climate, where people often retreat into ideological silos rather than seeking to understand opposing perspectives (Zaki, 2019). This challenge relates directly to Positive Intelligence, which teaches that *Saboteurs*—negative thought patterns such as the *Judge*, the *Avoider*, or the *Hyper-Rational*—often take over in difficult situations. In these moments, individuals are more likely to react defensively, shut down emotionally, or dismiss opposing viewpoints. The challenge, then, is to override these instincts and instead engage with others through empathy. Developing the mental fitness to do this requires intentional practice, just as PQ training encourages individuals to strengthen their *self-command muscle* to shift from a negative mindset to a more constructive and understanding one. ### **Empathy Can Be Incentivized Like Any Other Skill** Another challenge presented in Zaki’s talk is the idea that empathy can be influenced by incentives. He references a study in which women initially performed better than men on an empathy test. However, when both groups were offered financial incentives to be more accurate in their assessments of others' emotions, the gender gap in empathy disappeared. This finding suggests that empathy is not necessarily an innate ability but rather something that can be improved when individuals have the right motivation (Zaki, 2019). This idea challenges the common assumption that some people are simply “bad” at empathy. Instead, it implies that many individuals may simply lack awareness of their capacity to develop this skill or the motivation to do so. This concept aligns with Positive Intelligence, which suggests that individuals can train their brains to adopt more positive habits through repeated practice and reinforcement. Just as individuals can increase their emotional resilience through PQ training, they can also increase their ability to empathize when given the right tools and motivation. ## **Conclusion** Jamil Zaki’s TEDx talk provides a compelling discussion on the nature of empathy, presenting it as a skill rather than a fixed trait. The idea that empathy can be cultivated and renewed aligns with Positive Intelligence principles, which emphasize mental fitness and the ability to reshape thought patterns. However, Zaki also challenges individuals to recognize that empathy is most difficult when it is most needed and that motivation plays a significant role in its development. Ultimately, his talk suggests that empathy, like any other skill, requires intentional effort and practice. By recognizing empathy as something within their control, individuals can make conscious choices to foster understanding and connection in their personal and professional lives. ## **Reference** Zaki, J. (2019, November 6). *We’re experiencing an empathy shortage, but we can fix it together* [Video]. YouTube. TEDxMarin. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DspKSYxYDM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DspKSYxYDM) ## Jethro's Original Thoughts I'd agree largely with what the AI generated for me, but it just doesn't have my voice. This is a good example of the AI being able to do anything, and even though I trained it on my writing style, it still doesn't match my writing style as well. I chose to use AI for this project as an example of how the AI can't emulate empathy like I can. Through the Positive Intelligence work I've been doing over the last 2 years with my clients I have seen a dramatic impact of training empathy with them. Everybody has some level of empathy, but I've consistently seen it grow as people focus on it and try to understand it better. AI may be getting close to giving good information, but it still doesn't develop real empathy, because it is not a secondary biological piece of knowledge. See [[7650 Book Assignment]].