Can you learn Empathy?

[Gumby Bush]

Is Empathy necessarily subconscious or can you learn Empathy, or can Empathy be based on a internal catalog of peoples' external appearances when their emotion was known?

[zylosan]

People can learn to better read others body and verbal language, which could give a rational for making Empathy a learnable advantage. But such abilities can also be explained as skills. Psychology springs to mind.

Ask the GM.

Edit: For the record I have critically failed at my attemps to learn Empathy, so I just choose the socopath meta-trait.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by fighting_gumby

Is Empathy necessarily subconscious or can you learn Empathy, or can Empathy be based on a internal catalog of peoples' external appearances when their emotion was known?

That's a world building decision.

[Gumby Bush]

What is the difference between Empathy and Body Language apart from the fact that Empathy is an Advantage and Body Language is a Skill?

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by fighting_gumby

What is the difference between Empathy and Body Language apart from the fact that Empathy is an Advantage and Body Language is a Skill?

Empathy gives you an instant feel for the person. The GM should give vague indications of what psychological limitations they have. It's why people who have Empathy react at a minus to Callous people. Body Language won't do that.

[Gumby Bush]

Would Psychology cover knowing their psychological limitations? What (if anything) is unique to Empathy?

[zylosan]

Would Psychology cover knowing their psychological limitations? What (if anything) is unique to Empathy?
Yesterday 11:31 PM


Psychology requires that the judging character have a good deal of truthful, personnal and extensive knowledge to be able to accurately "read" them. Empathy allows an "instant" impression of the target character.

Empathy is also a requrement to influence some individuals with specific advantages though the specific advantage names escape me THM.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by fighting_gumby

Would Psychology cover knowing their psychological limitations?

Not without a lengthy conversation. Empathy is instant and isn't opposed by the other's character's Acting skills.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by zylosan

People can learn to better read others body and verbal language, which could give a rational for making Empathy a learnable advantage. But such abilities can also be explained as skills. Psychology springs to mind.

Body Language is the prototypical skill for this.

Bill Stoddard

[Flyndaran]

As it is, empathy borders on the psychic. Body language is the realistic ability whether learned or instinctive.