The Future of Empathy: Teaching the Millennial Generation

Recent research points to a 40% decline in college students’ capacity for empathy over the past 4 decades (Konrath, O’Brien, & Hsing, 2011). In this article, the author reflects on undergraduates’ reaction to the case study “Toys for Haiti,” which the author created and designed to foster empathy in her students. She provides an overview of the downturn in empathy among this generation, and discusses research that demonstrates that changing daily culture can substantially increase capacity for empathy and understanding. She concludes with a discussion of why empathy is a critical and necessary skill for both individual students and for the future of the planet.