In an age where empathy is lauded as the gold standard for human interactions, the line between genuine compassion and subtle manipulation can sometimes blur. You've likely encountered it, that ...

If you ever watched the iconic show Inside the Actor’s Studio, with James Lipton, you know all too well one of the notorious questions he asked during each interview: “What’s your favorite word?” I ...

Last night I went to a dinner party and one of the guests was so shy, his face alternated between deer-in-the-headlights to disgust as he observed the rest of us chatting and having fun. As a divorced ...

We are already witnessing the dangers of this decline in empathy in various aspects of society—whether in politics, economic ...

Where did you learn to think about other people’s emotions? When did you decide to factor them into your view of the world? Your interactions with others? Personally, I’m not sure I remember a ...

When someone we care about is struggling, many of us jump into problem-solving mode. We offer advice, suggest strategies, or try to cheer them up. Our intentions are good—we want to help. But in doing ...

Sign up for the Concord Monitor's morning newsletter and get essential news each day. According to Elon Musk, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is ...

In the wake of truly "horrific events"—from a shocking train stabbing to a devastating natural disaster—the world looked to ...