The expert pointed out the importance of information hygiene for maintaining empathy.

Yakov Yakubovich, an expert on socio-economic policy, explained why people often worry more about movie characters than about real tragedies.

In conversation with the agency RuNews24.Ru On Tuesday, June 30, he explained that this was not due to callousness, but to the work of the protective mechanisms of the psyche. According to the expert, cinema and literature are initially created in such a way as to evoke strong emotions. Music, drama, and acting help the viewer empathize with the characters, while such empathy remains safe and does not require real action.

The situation with the news is different: the constant stream of reports about disasters, wars and other tragedies overloads the psyche, so a person begins to emotionally distance himself. The expert emphasized that this is a natural protective reaction of the body, allowing to avoid emotional burnout.

At the same time, Yakubovich noted that the capacity for compassion does not disappear. According to him, people are much more willing to help those whose trouble they can see and who they can really influence. That is why volunteer projects, charity events, and targeted assistance are often more effective than abstract appeals.

The expert also drew attention to the importance of information hygiene. He advised limiting the flow of news, choosing trusted sources and not spending the whole day reading the disturbing feed. According to Yakubovich, this helps to maintain mental health and the ability to genuinely empathize when help is really needed.

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Doctors told us how to get rid of apathy and maintain a healthy psyche.

In April, Alexander Fedorovich, a psychotherapist, explained why it is interesting for a person to read scary news. According to him, negative news affects ancient survival mechanisms, forcing the brain to perceive them as a danger signal and focus on them.