Where does our empathy come from?

See the two shapes above? Which is a bouba and which is a kiki?

If you are like an estimated 98% of the rest of the world, you would say that the image to the left is a “kiki” and the image to the right is a “bouba.”

In 2001, USCD psychologist Vilayanur Ramachandran presented these shapes to both American and Indian populations. Similar to the original research of this subject (Köhler, 1929; 1947), Ramacharndran found that almost the entire sample responded the same way, in that they assigned the image with the jagged edge as a “kiki”, and the image with the rounded edges as a “bouba.”

Why do most people respond this way?

Presumably, subjects tend to map the name “kiki” onto the figure on the left because the of the sharp inflection in both the pointy drawing and the harsh sound of the word, “kiki.” Similarly, the rounded shaping of the edges of the image on the right makes it more like the rounded auditory inflection of “bouba.” Ramachadran theorizes that the human brain is somehow able to extract abstract properties from shapes and sounds.

Why is this research important?

The “bouba/kiki effect” is a very common component of what makes up a curious condition called, synaesthesia, in which an otherwise normal person experiences sensations in one modality when a second modality is stimulated. For example, a person sees a particular color when looking at certain numbers (the “bouba/kiki effect” is a common example to illustrate how we all do this to some degree; and some more than others). This effect supports the idea that lip and tongue movements and other vocalizations may be synaesthetically linked to objects and events and that the mapping of our brain can include representations of non-arbitrary links in to an external object’s visual appearance. In other words, we are mapping a connection in our brain by sounding out the word of the shape and assigning it to a form, even though it is a nonsense word and a nonsense shape.

It also shows that human brain mapping is more similar than we think. We have something in common with almost everyone. The same way you assign a pointed edge to a harsh sound is the same way you are able to more easily see a globe out of the following figures when it has colour:

But why is this important for relationships?

The “bouba/kiki effect” helps us to better understand the functions of mirror neurons, which are thought to be the birthplace of a person’s ability to empathise (as well as imitation learning, “mind reading” and even the evolution of language). With knowledge of these neurons, you have the basis for understanding a host of puzzling aspects of the human mind. Put another way, this is how we are able to feel the pain, joy and sadness of our partners. When your partner speaks to you, your brain is mapping an emotional response, giving you cues on what to say and how to react. It enables you to not only hear the content of what your partner is saying, but to understand the emotion by feeling it.

The effect another person’s emotions has on you is great, especially considering 90% of our emotional communication is nonverbal. When you are able to connect to someone – your partner, a friend, even the underdog on The Biggest Loser – you create a bond that helps you to better understand their point of view. Irvin Yalom, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Stanford, once said, “There is no human deed or thought that lies fully outside the experience of other people.” Taken together, the ideas mentioned here – having a sense of universality with almost everyone in some way, no matter how small and that this is a part of our evolutionary makeup – are what propels us forward into human connection. So the next time you and your partner have a fight, remember the “bouba” and the “kiki” – at least you have one thing in common.

Further Reading:

Köhler, W. (1929), Gestalt Psychology. (New York: Liveright).

Köhler, W. (1947), Gestalt Psychology (2nd Ed). (New York: Liveright).

Ramachandran, V. S. & Hubbard, E. M. (2001). Synaesthesia – a window into perception, thought and language. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 3-34