[Michael Mc (OP)]

What is your opinion about empaths, which is to say a person who has the ability to sense the emotions of others. Though I understand that an empath has roots in science fiction, I wonder if the concept may have some basis in reality. Specifically, someone who may be very intuitive at reading body language. However, if that were the case - an empath might not be effective in cultures different from their own.

Anyhow, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,

Michael Mc

[lyner]

Absolutely.
You could probably spot fear, anger and the other basics but that would be about the limit.
So many mannerisms and gestures are learned  from one's immediate associates and local culture.

[RD]

If "body language" includes facial expression, then definitely yes.

Re gesture:
the same gesture can have completely different in meanings in different countries,
 e.g. the "O.K." hand gesture is offensive in most countries.

[Monox D. I-Fly]

Re gesture:
the same gesture can have completely different in meanings in different countries,
 e.g. the "O.K." hand gesture is offensive in most countries.

Which hand gesture is "O.K." and what does that hand gesture mean in other countries?

[evan_au]

A reduced ability to read emotional cues is one of the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Many science nerds (ie many people reading this forum) fall somewhere on this spectrum...

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum#Temporal_lobe

PS: As ASD is a spectrum, one end of the spectrum has people who can read emotions to an "average" extent...

[strongernow]

What is your opinion about empaths, which is to say a person who has the ability to sense the emotions of others. Though I understand that an empath has roots in science fiction, I wonder if the concept may have some basis in reality. Specifically, someone who may be very intuitive at reading body language. However, if that were the case - an empath might not be effective in cultures different from their own.

Anyhow, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,

Michael Mc

I really like your thought about being not able to read body language from another culture.
Might be true if it differs very much from yours (ex: chinese and european)
But in my opinion as soon as you get to know the culture, habbits and body language you can also start using it.

Even if it only to see if someone feels good or bad, its a beginning.

Has anyone of you ever experienced being totally wrong about the body language of someone from another culture?

[Colin2B]

Has anyone of you ever experienced being totally wrong about the body language of someone from another culture?

I have seen film of a reception between middle eastern and western representatives - I think it was an Embassy function. Middle eastern people have a closer interpersonal distance to western culture and it is possible to see the westerners constantly retreating followed by their conversation partners, seen from above it looks like a ballroom dance.

[strongernow]

Has anyone of you ever experienced being totally wrong about the body language of someone from another culture?

I have seen film of a reception between middle eastern and western representatives - I think it was an Embassy function. Middle eastern people have a closer interpersonal distance to western culture and it is possible to see the westerners constantly retreating followed by their conversation partners, seen from above it looks like a ballroom dance.

Might be true, at least I can imagine it ...

[Colin2B]

Might be true,

Are you saying I might not have seen it?

[Bored chemist]

Though I understand that an empath has roots in science fiction

Should have been left there.