Apart from the related methods and knowledge of disciplines and scientific fields, some qualifications are needed when the issues to be studied have to do with human understanding and behaviour. Based mostly on my own experience and not being very confident of my judgment, I believe that what is also needed is a kind of aptitude. Aptitude may be seen as something one has to have in order to be, for example, an opera singer; that I would never be one was clear when I was ten!

Empathy may be one of these required abilities. Many have a clear knowledge of the feelings of others, especially the psychologists, but empathy is something different. It means to “feel” the Other. “Today there are many definitions of empathy. Most clinical and counseling psychologists, however, agree that true empathy requires three distinct skills: the ability to share the other persons’ feelings, the cognitive ability to intuit what another person is feeling, and a ‘socially beneficial’ intention to respond compassionately to that person's distress.”

Actually, empathy has two components/sources: one is the experience (and education) one gets during a lifetime, and the other, say, the mysteries of the brain. About the first, I have some observations; but I am reluctant to reach general conclusions based on my limited personal observations. On the other hand, I see no reason not to share my experience with others.