The cognitive structure of the brain

Makes a lot of sense. The ability to suspend emotions and be objective, such as dealing with an emergency and staying calm, is an important part of human functioning. Certain jobs need the individual to be detached enough to carry them through without getting tied up with feelings about 'what if', like bomb disposal experts or surgeons.

Oh that's a bit worrying. I agree about emergency situations, but what about, say, a social worker dealing with a mother and child situation.

I confess it is the current storyline in East Enders that made me think of this.

Or a judge deciding on how harsh a sentence should be.

I wonder how this might relate to ageing?

I've noticed that elderly people are often touchingly friendly to all and sundry. Wonder if this means the analytical part of their brain is less in evidence which would explain why they make easier targets for conpeople.

Thats a good point Jingle. A social worker has to walk a fine line and veer between objectivity and empathy, and one of the purposes of their training and supervision is to attend to their own emotions and how they manage them. You hear about social workers getting 'burnt out' from the emotional toil of doing their job. Switching off and staying objective is easier for some, but they often take their work and worries home with them when the difficult tasks have been done, and they are left with the emotional impact of putting themselves in the shoes of the families they have been working with.

I'm not so sure. I tend towards thinking one can hold empathy alongside analytic thought. It is a fine line, yet in holding both isn't it possible to consciously decide which area, and how much of each, can be brought to the fore, depending on the circumstances?

Not quite the same but did anyone listen to Hilary Devey- the Dragon with the padded shoulders- on Desert Island discs this week.She explained how she is able to be incredibly analytical and,consequently, successful in business but absolutely useless in personal relationships.

Interesting thought.

I was a SW for many years in medical settings. I worked only briefly on a children's ward as I simply could not do it - I was too distressed by it all.

I worked mainly with people with brain injury then and, although their tales and the distress (particularly of the relatives) was upsetting I was able to "switch off" most of the upset and concentrate on being (I hope) of positive help. It is a difficult balance - switch off too much and you have no empathy; switch off too little and you cannot function effectively and cease to be professional.

I stopped being a SW and moved into photography and music and arts outreach at the point when (at the age of about 50) I realised that I could take no more - the case that tripped me over the edge was one where the conflict between my assessment and advice was ignored by SSD and they insisted on me taking a course of action which resulted in increasing the family's distress as I had predicted it would. Out I got! - no more!! My emotional brain was definitely in operation when I told them where to put their job!!

I do not think that people realise what a tightrope SWs walk and how difficult it is to get it right. Hence my concern about the use of untrained non-professional SWs as cost-cutting exercise.

"my emotional brain was definitely in operation when I told them where to put their job!!"

Very similar situation for counsellors/therapists.

In that work you hear some very distressing stories from some very distressed people in an intense one to one situation. Striking the right balance in response whilst managing what may be strong feelings in yourself is a delicate art - and draining.

My training insisted on personal therapy for the duration of the course (two years) and regular supervision thereafter, the latter so that there was a place to get a second opinion and let off steam (often the only place due to rules of confidentiality) and also to ensure that the counsellor did not unconsciously work out their own issues to the detriment of the 'client'.

Just thinking about it now leaves me feeling exhausted.

Interesting subject. I've had lots of discussions over the years about empathy, sympathy, pity, compassion, and have studied sadistic offenders, some of whom can perspective-take and be more than able to feel their victims' pain, which motivates them to hurt more. Trying to strike up a relationship with a sadistic rapist, for example, is generally counter-productive as knowing how you feel and what the aftermath will be, fuels the attack, whereas (generally) non-sadistic offenders would be more likely to reassure or curtail an attack. I have experienced such offenders trying to wheedle personal information out of me with which to confuse or scare me. Complex issue. Perhaps there's a semantic difference - empathy with or without compassion?

whenim64 your job sounds scary, to say the least.

Don't do it now Petallus. I've retired

I can't agree with petallus My old brain is becoming less empathetic but I have remained analytic- which I always was. As long as I was getting the right hormones I was really kind and loving but now I remind myself of my old tabby cats, of which I have had a couple. I have less patience with the young - and the old. I tend to show my claws! I do feel sorry afterwards but my family either don't notice or are inclined to forgive me.

I worked on a voluntary basis, in a Women's Refuge for 25 years and there is not much that I have not heard about but I couldn't have the patience with these women and their chaotic lives now.

This Study: I would be interested who the test people were Male or Female? Most US studies take the students which are on their doorstep and are male 18-25 year olds.

I'm probably thinking of people older than I assume you are MargaretX but I agree my comment would not apply to everybody.

There is a general view, though, that older people are easier to dupe.

I'm friendlier and chattier than I was in shops and at bus-stops etc. but I have less patience for family fiffle-faffle and I speak my mind and swear more.

It can be difficult in my job as well. Particularly when I reall y feel for the person and know that they are genuine but I am constrained by the law.

Yes petallus I remember the 3 years supervision we had, to accompany the work in the Refuge. We needed to let off steam in private and we volunteers ( albeit handpicked) were treated the same as the staff.

I can't imagine any on GN who would be easily duped. I am always astounded at pensioners putting money in bogus insurance companies and this comes on TV showing us how old people are. Its like the pictures of care homes you see where the old people are playing Ludo / Bingo -and enjoying it. I get worried that this is the picture of the old that the young people get.

If the intelligent old are supposed to live healthier lives and (at least in Germany) tend to live longer, then the old should be better represented in the media. Perhaps it is the men who loose their analytic qualities?

YES! It's the men!