I have an extreme level of Empathy, and have for almost as long as I can remember. When someone else feels pain, physical or emotional, I often find I can feel exactly what they are feeling. This often makes watching movies or certain tv shows a bit hard, and even listening to music can lead to strange emotions. For example: In comedies, when a character does something extremely stupid, I often have to turn away, because I far to easily put myself in that exact situation, and I know exactly how I"d feel if something like that were to happen to me. In horror movies, I get so close to characters, that if they die, or are feeling extreme fright, it can be a chore to stop myself from turning it off(despite the fact that it doesn't personally make me scared). In Romance/Drama movies, I often come close to tears during very sad moments a character endures(losing a loved one, having the love of their life shatter their heart by telling them they aren't interested, etc), even knowing I probably wouldn't react the same way in real life. I often find myself yelling at the TV when someone is overly obnoxious(example: My wife watches Jersey shore, and some of the stupid crap that goes on in that show, it drives me up the wall, I feel like I want to go through the TV screen and smack them, it's like what they are doing or saying is personal). Music is the same way depending on what it's about, and the general beat/flow/melody of the song. I often find myself getting worked up over other peoples problems in real life as well, as if the hardships they are going through I am dealing with as well.

Does anyone else have problems with extreme amounts of empathy, or am I alone in this? I really wish I could find the off-switch for this, it can be very frustrating to "connect" with EVERYTHING and EVERYONE all the time.

i have extremely low levels of empathy.

I have five empathy units.

I laugh at your pain, and get off on your tears.

Mine are huddles in some cave with no allocated pee spot...

Not too empathic...

I suppose I'm sorta like you. I can sit and watch the news and get a bit teary because of some story on there, especially if it involves animals or a large natural disaster. I cry in movies (especially the Green Mile) and while reading books, and, if I'm in a crappy mood, songs can get me a bit upset too. My friends even tease me a little for crying so much. I kinda blame it on my age a little, because my teenage hormones would be racing around my body still, making me upset at the slightest thing, but I guess I do feel a lot of empathy for people, despite never being in those situations before. I don't think it's a bad thing to feel empathy though, just slightly annoying :shrug: You're not alone, dude.

ehh, im a caring person, but i have trouble caring.

i wish i was more empathetic, but i have a hard time caring about "your problem" especially if i have never had one like it.

Unless it's someone I'm close to I just don't care that much.

I am always there with a good word or advice and a shoulder to cry for those who need it. As for actually feeling much empathy towards people, it is just not part of who I am .

I don't think I have much empathy, or if I do, I don't act on it often. It's not something that jumps to mind. I can understand where they are coming from (sometimes), but often my actual thoughts end up with a different conclusion or idea on the matter. It's hard to balance being empathetic and rational sometimes. You need the empathy to care in the first place, but the rational to find the best course of action.

I don't really have empathy for fictional characters in movies/tv, unless they are in a series that I love, then I can cry at times. :cryvaultboy:

I'm just empathetic enough to be bothered by my lack of empathy for people

Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little. It's very context dependent, and depends on my mood at the time.

I don't have a lot of empathy for strangers or for people I'm irritated with. I try not to get emotionally involved with stuff, I've got my own problems to deal with without adding in other people's drama. Maybe I'll get better at the whole empathy thing one day.

EDIT: I used to really get caught up with empathy for fictional characters in the novels I read, and when I role played video games. But nowadays I put it all in perspective and make sure I don't get wound up in all of it or over-react/get all emotionally over-involved.

Yes, I am empathetic, but I usually try to hide it. Oh, and I know when to hide it at the right times.

I also think I have way too much empathy.

Altrough I can find it funny if someone comical happens to someone (like someone slipping), or something cool happens (like a hockey hit) it often turns to sadness and concern in a few seconds if that person looks hurt.

I'm not even able to ever play a bad guy in a video game. Sure, I can do something morally questionable it's the logical choice (altrough I might somehow feel bad about it) however I just cant bring myself to play a complete monster for fun.

I think it's a good thing through, I would never want to be a jerk (or psychopath) who doesn't care for what anyone else might feel.

some interesting responses thus far ^^ Not to terribly surprising for those who have said they don't have much, I fully understand it's not that common to be able to to feel what other people feel, and care, especially if the people in question are complete strangers. Actually, I do have one area where I'm not very empathetic at all, that's concerning large groups of people suffering. Don't get me wrong, I still feel badly for people who endure major disasters(like Japan, or Haiti), but I don't feel bad on a personal level.

@Carrot sandwhich: when I was younger, I used to think it was caused by my teenage hormones as well, but as I got/get older, it's actually intensified. Not a bad thing all the time, it makes consoling people who have lost loved ones and what not a lot easier, since people can generally sense if you're just giving lip service to them, and when you actually feel what they feel, but man is it a pain in the ass the rest of the time.

I don't usually get attached to anything fictional, except on rare occasions. Mostly books that are incredibly long and have me build a huge "relationship" with a character. LotR is really bad for me, I always feel like crying when I watch the movies or read the books.

Besides that I consider myself pretty empathetic, but not so much that it's debelatating(I can not for the life of me figure out how to spell that, or if it's even a real word). I especially think I have a lot more animal empathy than most people(and unfortunately not in the DnD sense).

Debilitating ^^

And, books are actually the one place I enjoy my high level of empathy, it makes getting inside the main character so much easier and better. I love going through a long book, or a good series of books and connecting with the character on many emotional levels. It does svck when they die, or someone close to them dies, but still, it adds to the experience. Not sure why I can't view movies/music/tv/real life the same way as I do books.

That's nothing unusual. To individuals or small groups, we have a face we can identify with. To crowds we only have numbers. As the good totalitarian dictator Stalin supposedly put it, the death of one is a tragedy, the death of millions is just a statistic.

I have enough to make viewing shock sites an extremely depressing affair. Plus, I have a soft spot for social outcasts, seeing as I am one.

Sometimes games and movies can make me feel for the characters, but only in rare cases where they're developed extremely well. The Persona games affect me on an emotional level, as well as films like Shawshank Redemption and Titanic.

then dont view them :mellow:

Sometimes people are creeped out by how easily I can have a cold disdain for individual people if the situation requires. I have a utilitarian approach to strangers that involves no exertion of empathy for them. Sometimes I'm asked if I care, but really, if they haven't given me any reason to, why would I?

It's hard. Curiosity is a powerful thing, and I succumb to it a bit more often than is good for my health.

I dont feel other people's pain that easily and when I do I'm not the kind of person thats going to comfort them. I'm not heartless, I just leave people alone when they are angry or upset and let it pass...thats kind of my attitude for a lot of things, just let it pass and be laid back, no need to get worked up over stuff that already happened :shrug:

Ha, thanks. I agree though that it's definitely a plus to be an empathetic person when you read. I think that's why I prefer reading to movies and games. It makes everything a lot more rewarding if I'm emotionally attached, which I find it hard to be in any but the best of movies or games.