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Stanford professor Jamil Zaki shares research on empathy — not as a fixed trait but as a skill that can be developed. How empathy affects financial decisions, relationships, and well-being.
Canon
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Zaki's research supports the most-generous-interpretation Canon: people who habitually interpret others' behavior charitably show higher empathy, lower stress, and better relationships than those who assume negative intent.
Highlights
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Empathy is not a fixed trait — it is a skill that can be developed like any other
Zaki presents evidence that empathy is not hardwired at birth. It can be increased through practice, and decreases when not used. This challenges the assumption that empathetic people are 'born that way.'