Psychologist Jamil Zaki argues empathy is a skill, not a fixed trait, and it strengthens with practice like a muscle. Three concrete ways to build it: listen more, ask one extra question, and imagine someone else's perspective. The neural pathways rewire once you restart the habit.
Why are some people naturally warm and kind, while others are a toxic nightmare? Empathy is often described as a fixed trait, but psychologist Jamil Zaki at Stanford has spent his career arguing that this view is wrong. He says empathy behaves more like a muscle than a fixed trait. How do you practice empathy? Listen more. Ask one more question. Imagine the situation from another perspective. These skills rewire our empathy response over time. Like any skill, empathy gets rusty when you stop using it. But like riding a bike, all you need to do is get started again. For more insights about the science of the mind, tune into Hidden Brain on Apple, Spotify, or hiddenbrain.org.
