Brian Weiner

Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart.

FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY

Are you one of those people who feel a large sense of empathy for those whom you may never know personally but of whose struggles you are aware?

When you contemplate what they must be experiencing, do you have a gut reaction to these variables that translates to a physical expression of the emotion that you are feeling?

Some people feel a deep chasm of empathy where others are so oblivious or indifferent as to cause a massive disparity between the two swings of this pendulum. 

Dostoyevsky proposes the chasm is caused by both intelligence as well as an emotional quotient which is present in many people but whose sensitivity is variable across humanity at large.

When you look at these qualities in people and compare that to the type of theatrical entertainment that attracts them, you will inevitably find direct correlations, for what is entertainment if not an emotional stimulant.

One audience is satiated by a MMA cage match while an alternate may find a story like Sophie’s Choice emotionally compelling.

As human beings fluctuate from person to person on the internal scales that drive such emotional engagement, there would presumably be commonality in those that have one general reaction vs. those that have a diminished reaction.

This lead me to wonder if the difference is biological or more directly correlated to upbringing, values and life perspectives.

I believe there are many variables beyond intelligence and compassion that drive emotional reactions to experiences. The more humanity evolves, the more the external influences weigh heavily on our lives in general. 

A perfect example might be where that person is garnering their information about the world. If they are intelligent, they are leveraging countless resources, trying to piece together their own perspective on what may be transpiring. Whereas another person may be fixated on a single news source which continues to feed them programming that drives advertising revenue for the media giant who is streaming it, regardless of the truth, authenticity or veracity of the information.

As a direct consequence, world views are formed. Perspectives are validated. 

So perhaps it does boil down to intelligence after all.

Happy Wednesday!