#(I seem to keep iterating the notion that affective empathy is neither necessary for nor uniquely likely to produce ethical behavior 😂)

[justashadetalkative]

Writing flails: Empathy

(Obligatory disclaimer: Defining empathy is a challenge and often contradictory. But this post is about affective empathy / emotional contagion, not definitions of empathy that are synonymous with compassion.)

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My most empathetic character is also by far the one who causes the most harm; a character who can often barely tolerate other people unless he’s in control of both their pains and their joys, but who delights in seizing that control.

My second most empathetic character means well, but is so eager to help and comfort others that he often charges in half-cocked without any kind of true understanding of the situation, and can get hurt and defensive if that ends up making it worse.

My third most empathetic character means well, and has self restraint, but despite knowing better is frequently tempted to quietly and unilaterally fix situations without any input from – or feelings experienced by – the other people involved.

My least empathetic character is, admittedly, perfectly happy to kill and eat a person if it seems like the practical option at the time, but is also constantly listening to and trying to understand the perspectives of those around it. (Even if it’s also often judging those perspectives because they seem nonsensical to it. 😂)

My second least empathetic character is completely and utterly committed to the idea of autonomy and informed consent; detests bullies of all sorts; and often gets a bit carried away, but is pretty much always willing to listen when she discovers that she’s fucked up.

My third least empathetic character has literally devoted his entire life to helping, healing, and teaching others, and has tied himself up into a dysfunctional knot from sheer scrupulosity around his determination not to cause harm.

…And then off to the side somewhere we have Linast, who is either hyperempathetic or just very observant and very prone to projection and I can never quite decide which, and Phosa, who is so disconnected from her own more complex emotions that she doesn’t really have a chance in hell of actually telling when other people’s emotions are having an effect on her, even when they do. :’D