Essay2

__How to Educate Beyond The Monkeysphere__

David Wong, in his article “What is the Monkeysphere?” attempts to explain a complex aspect of human nature and why we struggle to empathize with strangers. The “monkeysphere” Wong refers to is an idea extrapolated from a 1989 study which found a relationship between brain size and the size of their social group. The concept, now commonly referred to as Dunbar’s Number, has since been mathematically applied to humans. Based on the average human brain size, it is theorized one can not feasibly maintain more than 150 stable relationships. Wong argues that this study helps to explain human apathy towards horrific events, and sheds light on how and why one can justify their own immoral actions. His article explains that the monkeysphere, “ is the group of people who each of us, using our monkeyish brains, are able to conceptualize as people.” It is normal for an individual to have trouble empathizing outside of each our own Monkeyspheres simply because we are “hardwired” to do so. This natural function of our being seems to be a fundamental flaw of society that is no doubt the root of many social and political problems. (Troublesome as it may be, I would not go so far as to say that it is, “the single reason society doesn’t work,” as Wong dramatically suggests. Are we forgetting disease? Mental illness? Greed? Empathy is no panacea and society does work, we simply do not live in a Utopia of compassion and world peace that many of us would like to. )

Sensationalist as the article may be, I think at its core, it speaks to an undeniable truth: that the world would be a far better place if we could all work harder towards understanding one another on a less superficial level. So the question remains, how are we to encourage the next generation of youth to embrace this wisdom for the sake of humanity? Education is tricky because if you think about it, conducting a classroom full of children is much like lording over a tiny country populated with its own society of tiny, backpack and lunch box toting, migrant people. Each child is emigrating from a “homeland” where they have developed their own set of cultural ideals and norms. Ideally, instruction in empathy must begin at home. Children are natural copy cats. This is how we learn, and typically kids grow up wanting to please their parental figures, and consequently develop priorities and behaviors based on what is accepted at home.A child who suffers from a troubled homelife consequently may struggle to empathize with others more than one who grows up in a stable environment. So how do we account for these outliers?

Educators, especially those of young children, may consider setting time aside to specifically address issues of empathy to encourage classroom inclusiveness. They ought to do this by first considering their own experience with being empathetic. In a school environment the educator becomes the authority figure, and therefore bares the responsibility of acting as an example. Children might benefit from individual attention, and periodic assessments of their academic and emotional development throughout the year. As a targeted approach, one on one time with a caring adult not only gives the child someone to emulate, but provides an appropriate outlet for frustrations and concerns, thereby preventing emotional break downs and some of the hostilities they may take out on other kids. Regular meetings with well-trained guidance counselors, tutors, or mentors is a method that can be used for all age groups. Group exercises in conflict resolution might help to illustrate the benefits of communication, teamwork, and compromise.

Kids should be allowed time in the day to meditate upon their daily interactions with their peers. They might benefit from a worksheet where they can write the “good” and the “bad” of the day. The idea is that this will help encourage self reflection and constructive self criticism. The teacher may facilitate the exercise by asking questions to help them imagine themselves in problematic situations, to think about the cause and effect of their actions, and have them explain in their own words why empathy is important. It is a difficult task to accomplish, especially for educators who are over burdened with large classes without assistance, but it is critical that these issues be addressed from a young age, as the emotional and social psychology of an adolescent typically becomes much more difficult to influence.

Ironically, the article itself is constructed in a simplistic formulaic manner. The classic clickbait article features a provocative subject matter and a “quirky” writing style. It’s all very interesting up until the points he starts making definitive statements. I mean, is the “monkeysphere” really the single most reason society doesn't work David Wong? Is it really? So you think empathy will prevent the chaos of a massive stampede, trampling one another in an unprecedented moment of panic and confusion? You think it will it make scientific advances necessary to eradicate entire strains of disease? Is crying while watching the news, going to feed the schizophrenic homeless man who doesn’t know the difference between al qaeda and his own mother? Is all that Understanding!™ and “T-R-Y”ing going to pay the countries billions of dollars in college loan dept? Well, Mr. Wong, I think you put it best when you said, “DON'T LET ANYBOD __Y__  simplify it for you. The world cannot be made simple. Anyone who tries to paint a picture of the world in basic comic book colors is most likely trying to use you as a pawn. I will not be a your pawn. I hate your article. Plus simplifying is half of what education is, simplification does not mean ignoring complexities, it’s just a way to build up to it or to reduce it in order to focus on even bigger problems.

Wong, David. "What Is the Monkeysphere?" Cracked. September 30, 2007. Accessed October 22, 2015.