Ignite the Empathetic Response

This video below, from http://www.thersa.org/, offers some very encouraging and hopeful evidence for both actors and lawyers.

Much scientific research has been done concerning the mirror neurons. The biological basis for our empathy…briefly in all humans, and many primates, the same areas of the brain are activated whether we experience an emotion or action ourselves or if we observe it in others (that is a simplification, elaborated on in the video below and in much scientific literature on empathy). In other words, we are soft wired for Empathy. Biologically.

Our colleague, Eric Oliver, has studied and written about this.

For actors, this is the basis of the connection between the performer and the audience. This is the link by which storytelling and “play acting”, whether through sage/priests or actors, has flourished and survived since humans have been around. It is a necessity. A human need… to experience together. To seek BELONGING.

For attorneys, this is also very good news indeed. The emotional basis of your case, of your witnesses and clients’ experience is not only an intellectual exercise for judge and jury it is the linchpin which CONNECTS them to your story and theirs. By knowing this, an attorney is empowered to build upon the need of the trier of fact to BELONG to the group. The trick is for YOU to create the group to which we all want to belong.

Watch the video… do more research and weave your stories.

TIP: Make sure that the intellectual, legal basis of your case rests upon a strong emotional through line.

Subscribe to Legal Stage by Email

AB Speaks