Empathy across generations, Jessica Stern, Ph.D., Pomona College, Assistant Professor of Psychological Science
The roots of empathy begin in childhood; individual differences in empathy and prosocial behavior can be observed as early as the first years of life. Identifying the sources of these differences is critical for understanding and nurturing empathy across the life course. This presentation introduces a social-developmental model of empathy, proposing that first-hand experiences of receiving empathic care from parents (beyond socialization alone) lay the foundation for providing empathic care for others. I will present research from young children, adolescents, and adults demonstrating how patterns of empathy persist across time and generations, with a focus on attachment and neurobiological mechanisms. The presentation will explore potential applications and interventions, including leveraging adolescent friendships to support empathy during an especially sensitive window of development.
Learn about the latest empathy and compassion research findings from Sanford Institute-affiliated researchers.
UC San Diego’s Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion proudly presents the Empathy & Compassion Research Speaker Series for Fall 2026. This free virtual series highlights the impactful and groundbreaking research that Sanford Institute-affiliated faculty and researchers have played an integral role in. This series is designed for anyone with an interest in empathy and compassion in neurobiology and healthcare.
The hosting organization, T. Denny Sanford Institute of Empathy and Compassion, represents an unprecedented blending of two parallel themes: employing the unyielding rigor and tools of science to establish the neurological basis for empathy in the brain to identify the mechanisms that transform compassion from biology to behavior, and experimenting with and developing new ways to teach and instill empathy and compassion in clinicians currently practicing and in the teaching of future generations of health professionals.
Register here for this free online event. Please note, this event has been standardized to the Eastern Time Zone.