Description
Survival of the human species has always relied on social connectedness; in an increasingly isolated world positive socialization and emotional empathy is more important than ever before. Empathy is not a single part of our human core, but rather a complex mix of physical and biological elements. Through the use of MRI’s there is evidence of empathy being housed in the supramarginal gyrus, a part of the cerebral cortex (Bergland 2013). This article will discuss empathy as it relates to the developing teenage brain. To do this, we need to look at the social aspects of the teenage brain specifically interpersonal neurobiology. The theory of Interpersonal neurobiology stretches our thinking in terms of the self. This theory suggests that we are who we are in relation to one another (Caddell 2018). The impact of the current climate of education in 2020 due to the Coronavirus, and closing of schools highlights the critical need for empathy in our schools. It is my belief that by researching adolescent brain chemistry and making connections with interpersonal neurobiology, we will help cultivate teen empathy by addressing diverse personality types and incorporating this neurological research into our classroom curriculum.
