Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Psychopaths and Empaths

Here's a fascinating essay about psychopaths and empaths. 

It makes me think very much of Sherlock and John in the series Sherlock.
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  • 5 comments
fmanalyst

fmanalyst

April 1 2014, 11:34:03 UTC 7 years ago

It's an interesting argument, but I object to the use of empath for people who are overcome by their emotions. To me, an empath has learned emotional control in order not to be overcome by their emotional sensitivity to others. A different word seems more appropriate, but I would have to think about what that word would be. But then again, I remember the empath demon who was the monster of the week on Angel once.
peoriapeoria

peoriapeoria

April 1 2014, 14:09:04 UTC 7 years ago

There is a social construction I think in play. I have seen at close quarters this 'authentic' volatile presentation, and while it's easy to dismiss as Springeresque hotmess, they are real people that I'd say have been provided very bad tape.

Yes, I think of 'empath' more for those that actually do feel others emotions as if they were their own, or having similar merit. My understanding might relate to the difference of ages people can pass developmental stages. Small children are allowed to be egocentric, because they have to survive. The problem is when you stick children that aren't with them, and then wonder why their feelings have been hurt, why they want their toy back.
ysabetwordsmith

Hmm...

ysabetwordsmith

April 1 2014, 16:45:45 UTC 7 years ago

>> It's an interesting argument, but I object to the use of empath for people who are overcome by their emotions. To me, an empath has learned emotional control in order not to be overcome by their emotional sensitivity to others. <<

A word that causes alienation can make serious trouble.

On the other hoof, empathy is about what a person can do, not how well they can do it. An empath has sensory perception (and perhaps also influence) in the emotional field. They may handle this information well or poorly, depending on the intensity of perception and the amount/quality of their training. Most people have decent control over their five standard senses, but sensory processing disorder makes life difficult for some. One may be a good or poor listener. Base ability and skill are different things.

And then comes the matter of ethics. One may see things and be discreet or blab about it. One may perceive emotions and use the information kindly or cruelly.

It's just an ability. It isn't skilled or unskilled, moral or immoral, unto itself. That's on the user -- or the people talking about them.
fmanalyst

Re: Hmm...

fmanalyst

April 1 2014, 16:54:18 UTC 7 years ago

I recently came to the realization that I've had a sensory processing disorder all my life, but when I was a child in the 60s and 70s, there was little effort at diagnosis. I am hypersensitive in aspects of visual, auditory and emotional processing, but with poor proprioception and motor skills. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with that realization.

The writer seems to be using empath in relation to the expression of emotional content, whereas I always understood it to me the sensitivity to external emotional content.
ysabetwordsmith

Re: Hmm...

ysabetwordsmith

April 1 2014, 17:01:39 UTC 7 years ago

>> I recently came to the realization that I've had a sensory processing disorder all my life, but when I was a child in the 60s and 70s, there was little effort at diagnosis. <<

Bummer.

>> I am hypersensitive in aspects of visual, auditory and emotional processing, but with poor proprioception and motor skills. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with that realization. <<

1) It's always easier to solve a problem once you know what it is.

2) Now that you know about SPD, you can search for more information that may tell you how to cope with it. For example, there are other people who have it and they may share compensation techniques. White noise generators help some people with auditory vulnerability, etc. There are also websites that list ways of coping. One thing touched on occasionally is the use of herbs that settle the nervous system.

3) If the health care system works for you, consider checking there for assistance. Same with official support for handicaps.

>> The writer seems to be using empath in relation to the expression of emotional content, whereas I always understood it to me the sensitivity to external emotional content. <<

Empathy has passive (perception) and active (influence) modes. People may emphasize one or another. It is true that being an untrained empath can break people, in a cluster of pretty recognizable and ugly ways. Acting out emotionally like that is one of them.