Cognitive Science Colloquium - Michael Inzlicht
Cognitive Science Colloquium - Michael Inzlicht
April 24, Michael Inzlicht, Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, joins us for the Cognitive Science Colloquium to present his research on effort, self-control, motivation and boredom.
Empathy Reimagined: Challenging Assumptions About Human and Artificial Connection.
Abstract: Science progresses not just by discovery but by disagreement—by challenging prevailing assumptions and reframing the questions we ask. In this talk, I challenge three fundamental assumptions about empathy that have shaped our understanding of this phenomenon. First, I challenge the dominant framing of empathy as primarily a response to suffering and its compartmentalization into three distinct components. By examining empathy as it occurs in everyday life, I reveal a richer, more interconnected experience that more frequently involves joy than distress, fundamentally changing how we should conceptualize this capacity. Second, I question the widespread view of empathy as automatic and effortless, presenting evidence that empathy often feels cognitively costly and is actively avoided. My research demonstrates that empathy is better understood as a motivated choice rather than an automatic response. Finally, I challenge the view that artificial intelligence cannot capture the essence of human empathy. By shifting focus to the recipient’s perspective—asking how empathy feels to the target rather than the empathizer—I present surprising evidence that AI can simulate empathy with remarkable quality, potentially offering unique benefits that human empathy cannot. Together, these challenges to conventional wisdom offer fresh insights into empathy’s mechanisms, contexts, and future potential, while demonstrating how questioning established frameworks can advance our understanding of fundamental human phenomena.