Empath

Not to be confused with Empathy.

This article is about a term in parapsychology for a medium. For the comic book character, see Empath (character). For other uses, see Empath (disambiguation).

Empath (/ˈɛmpæθ/; from Ancient Greek ἐμπάθ(εια) (empáth(eia)) 'passion') is a term for people who have a higher than usual level of empathy.

In parapsychology, the mechanism for being an empath is said to be psychic channeling; psychics and mediums say that they channel the emotional states and experiences of other living beings, or the spirits of dead people, in the form of "emotional resonance". Studies of such claims have found them to be the result of mundane empathy and charisma, with no actual supernatural capabilities involved.^[1]

Paranormal usage

The term's paranormal usage flows mostly from the work of American psychiatrist Judith Orloff. Orloff uses the term to describe people who have an innate ability to read the emotional state of others. She believes that empaths are able to sense the thoughts, feelings and energy of those around them, and that they are able to use this ability to provide healing or comfort to others, if they manage their condition correctly.^[2] Orloff's work is controversial, as she says that she is a clairvoyant (psychic);^[3][4] her definition and classification of types of empaths is neither recognized by mainstream psychiatry nor is it included in the DSM-5. For her part, Orloff believes her psychiatric colleagues to be "stuck in the Dark Ages".^[5]

Two studies focused on such claims of telepathy have found them to be the result of mundane empathy and charisma, not supernatural capabilities.^[1]

In popular culture

Paranormal Empaths have featured in various works of fiction, such as the Marvel Comics character Empath^[6] Forest Whitaker's character Dan Smithson in Species (film) (1995) and the Star Trek: The Next Generation character Deanna Troi.^[7] The concept is further explored in Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 3, Episode 12, titled The Empath.^[8]

See also

• Telepathy
• Artificial empathy
• Pathological altruism