Steve Jackson Games Forums
Page 1 of 5 1 2345
Show 80 post(s) from this thread on one page

Steve Jackson Games Forums (https://forums.sjgames.com/index.php)
-   GURPS (https://forums.sjgames.com/forumdisplay.php?f=13)
-   -   Can you learn Empathy? (https://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=74238)

Gumby Bush 10-28-2010 10:07 PM
Can you learn Empathy?
 
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 10-28-2010 10:10 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
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 10-28-2010 10:20 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fighting_gumby (Post 1069824)
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 10-28-2010 10:22 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
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 10-28-2010 10:31 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fighting_gumby (Post 1069828)
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 10-28-2010 10:50 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
Would Psychology cover knowing their psychological limitations? What (if anything) is unique to Empathy?

zylosan 10-28-2010 11:14 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
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 10-28-2010 11:17 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fighting_gumby (Post 1069836)
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 10-28-2010 11:28 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zylosan (Post 1069826)
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 10-28-2010 11:55 PM
Re: Can you learn Empathy?
 
As it is, empathy borders on the psychic. Body language is the realistic ability whether learned or instinctive.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:39 PM.
Page 1 of 5 1 2345
Show 80 post(s) from this thread on one page

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.