The Altruistic Brain, Theory of Mind, and the Disruption of Empathy. Fundraising as a Meta Skill Part 2

Introduction

Following our exploration of body language as a meta-skill, we now shift from what the body expresses to what the brain understands, particularly in high-stakes human interactions such as fundraising, persuasion, and trust-building.

At the heart of successful fundraising lies one essential cognitive function: Theory of Mind — the ability to imagine another person’s thoughts, feelings, needs, and intentions. This brain-based capacity enables us to empathize, strategize, and connect meaningfully.

But what happens when this capacity is impaired-or when the human brain selectively “turns it off”?