The Wild Thornberrys; obligation of humanity

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Recommended: Roles of communication in animal society

In society, humanity has the opportunity to communicate with other species by using emotional empathy, cognitive empathy, and non-verbal communication. This opportunity is also seen as an obligation to be able to communicate with animals and with these advantages, should be successful. In the Wild Thornberrys, Eliza demonstrates the obligation for humanity to use a combination of emotional and cognitive empathy and non-verbal communication to build a relationship with animals.

Emotional empathy is necessary in developing a relationship. Emotional empathy is sharing similar feelings with another person. In the Human Relationship Encyclopedia it mentions that “empathy is a psychological phenomenon that at least temporarily unites the separate social entities of self and other” (Reis et al. 515). Emotional empathy can be seen as if the feelings of another were contagious. It is the idea of developing and being able to express similar sensitivity. Emotional empathy makes a person more aware of the emotions that another person have experienced. In the Human Relationship Encyclopedia it states that “Another important way in which empathy influences social relationships is evident when someone acts in a way that is hurtful to the partner.” (Reis et al. 518) A person is able to perceive the emotions that belong to a different person and act in response. These actions may be a sense of compassion or feeling the need to assist. Emotional empathy individually does not complete the communication involved in a relationship.

Cognitive empathy can enhance a relationship. Cognitive empathy is having the ability to understand another’s emotions and feelings.
The demands of the complex social environment in human evolution have selected fo...

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... in communicating with the animals. “Eliza, ever since you were a little kid you dragged home birds with broken wings and creepy toads and stuff. You didn't have special powers then. You just cared” (The Wild Thornberrys 66:13 – 66:19). Eliza is able to overcome an uncertain point when she is hesitant about saving the elephants.

Works Cited

The Wild Thornberrys Movie. Dir. Cathy Malkasian and Jeff McGrath. Paramount Pictures, 2002. DVD.

Smith, Adam (2006) "Cognitive Empathy and Emotional Empathy in Human Behavior and Evolution," The Psychological Record: Vol. 56: Iss. 1, Article 1.

Reis, Harry T., and Susan Sprecher. Encyclopedia of Human Relationships. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2009. Print.

"The Elephant Whisperer: The Story of Lawrence Anthony and the Elephants Who Never Forgot." The Featured Creature. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.

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