ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the implications of developing empathy that are relevant to people of all walks of life, review some key ideas to help in this endeavor, and provide some reasons for optimism about the human capacity for empathy. In primates, the biological priming for empathy is usually nurtured by a family environment that supports the physiology of emotion regulation and provides a model of empathy in relationships: secure attachment. Trusting that one is safe at home allows fight or flight reactions to subside, exploration to increase, and curiosity to emerge. In addition to the immediate family, all those who support parents of young children, from caring friends or relatives to advocates for social policies regarding maternity/paternity leaves, contribute to secure attachment relationships and thus, indirectly, to the development of empathy in children. With a little bit of nurturing, the seeds of empathy nature bestows can open and grow into blossoms.
