Why People Remain Silent When Someone They See Hurt But Feel Aggressive When Their Loved Ones Get Hurt
Do we lack humanity or do our hearts have no feelings?
The phenomenon of people remaining silent when witnessing harm to strangers while feeling intense empathy and aggression when their loved ones are hurt is a complex of psychological and societal factors but rather not very complex. It does not necessarily imply a lack of humanity or an absence of feelings in our hearts but reflects the dynamics governing human behavior.
One factor contributing to this phenomenon is a psychological term known as the “identifiable victim effect.” When harm occurs to someone we know or love their suffering becomes deeply personal evoking a strong emotional response. The connection we have with our loved ones creates a sense of empathy and a natural feeling to protect and defend them.
Likewise when faced with the suffering of strangers the pain is often perceived as more abstract and distant. The lack of a personal connection may lead to a diminished emotional response and individuals may feel a sense of helplessness or detachment resulting in a tendency to remain silent or less engaged.
On a broader societal level the silence or lack of collective in the face of widespread suffering such as the ongoing situation in Palestine is why are we all silent? Again do we only care about our loved ones sorry to say if our family was in their situation then we would speak. They are our brothers and sisters.
The ongoing conflict in Palestine where people are losing their lives daily and families are being torn apart. The relative silence from a global perspective is a shame.
However the dynamics change when we personalize the situation by imagining our loved ones in a similar position. The empathy that arises when we envision our family members or friends in such hardship prompts a stronger emotional response. It underscores the capacity for empathy and compassion within us.
I am Hamza Shafiq. I write about facts, poems, history, and entertainment follow and subscribe so you can get the best experience of writing