Are you talking with someone that emphasizes your situation? You could call them an 'empath.' This post describes the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The expression 'empath' means someone consciously aware of other people's mental and emotional states. The word is similar to the term 'telepath.' However, an 'empath' connects to the person's emotional state, not the exact thoughts the person is thinking.
'Empath' encompasses the words 'empathy' and 'telepath,' describing an individual's psychological ability to connect and identify with other people's emotions, attitudes, or thoughts. They are usually emotionally aware people with a talent for empathizing with others.
If you're an empath, you have a high 'EQ,' and you feel like you understand what the other person you're talking to is going through in their life.
Example Usage
"Susan is a genuine empath. It's like she feels what the other person is going through, and she connects with them on an emotional level. It's an amazing gift."
"Being an empath is challenging. Sometimes I sit around and find myself getting lost in other people's emotions and lives."
"I think you're an empath. You have the uncanny ability to cobnut with people on a deep level. It's like you touch their soul."
"Being an empath must be a terrible burden. You feel emotionally connected to people, and most people are not in a good state of mental health these days."
"If you think you're an empath, you should feel emotionally connected to people, even if you don't know them well. It's like you've known them your whole life."
Origin
The expression 'empath' originates from science-fiction. The first use of the term appears in 'The Empath,' a story written by Scottish author J.T. McIntosh in 1956. The story centers around paranormally empathetic individuals, known as 'empaths,' which the government uses to exploit workers.
However, the TV series 'Star Trek' is responsible for popularizing the word. The episode 'The Empath,' released in 1968, follows the story of a woman that can heal people's emotional wounds.
The story 'Vaster Than Empires & More Slow,' written by Ursula LeGuin in 19721, features an 'empath' as the lead character.
Marvel Comics introduced a character in 1984, 'Dr. Charles Xavier,' who was supposedly a telepath and empath.
The term changed its meaning in the 1990s to a highly emotionally sensitive person that channels the ideas and feelings of others.
Celebrity psychologists would change the term's meaning in the 2000s to describe a person's 'Emotional intelligence (quotient).'
Phrases Similar to Empath
- High EQ.
- Emotionally aware.
- Compassionate.
Phrases Opposite to Empath
- Psychopath.
- Sociopath.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Empath.
Ways People May Say Empath Incorrectly
Using 'empath' to describe a sociopath or psychopath is incorrect. The phrase refers to someone that can connect with people's emotional states. It's similar to the modern expression 'high EQ,' meaning 'high emotional quotient.'
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Empath
You can use the expression 'empath' to describe a person that can assess a person's emotional state and empathize with them. An empath has a near 'telepathic' ability to empathize with someone and relate to what they're experiencing in life. The phrase suits social situations where you describe someone who can connect with people's emotional states.
An empath is usually a sensitive person with a calm and collected emotional state. They can connect with others emotionally and help them deal with what they're going through in life. Typically, empaths are associated with understanding and empathizing with negative emotions, like sadness, stress, or depression.