Empathy

Stages of Empathic Interaction

	by Theresa M. Kelly, MsD
	Professor of Scientific Parapsychology, Researcher, Technical Author

Empathy is the psychical influence of emotion via experient influence over the emotional basis of consciousness and the mental and physiological processes associated with a wide variety of emotional experiences.

In regards to intentional empathic interaction techniques, several stages are assumed to exist through which the empathist impresses emotional experiences. During spontaneous (non-intentional) empathic interaction, these processes are assumed to run automatically by the subconscious.

However, since the processes are run subconsciously, there is no conscious directive.  To obtain a level of conscious direction, the empathist is assumed to require achieving each step in order to perform successfully.

Stage 1 of the empathic impression process involves initiation, i.e. the empathist recognizes his or her need to impress emotional information consciously, and therefore subconsciously.

Stage 2 involves selection, i.e. the empathist begins to decide what emotional experience will be impressed, and whom the subject or subjects will be. The empathist will need to induce the emotional information transfer process at this time. Techniques vary per the limitation of the empathist.

Stage 3 involves induction, i.e. the empathist induces the subject into a hypnotic state. This step is not considered a requirement for non-hypnotic empathic interaction (i.e. purely suggestive emotional impression).

1. In the first sub-stage, if subjects remain uncomfortable, the empathist will need to continue focusing on reducing discomfort.


2. Sub-stage 2 involves the empathist defining the emotional state of the subject (i.e. directing subject attention solely onto the empathist and the empathist focusing on what he or she needs subjects to emotionally experience).

Stage 4 involves suggestion, i.e. the empathist directs the focus of a dominate emotion or relative idea or call to action by shifting subject “focus” on an emotion or relative idea or call to action to a “command”  to accept the emotional experience.

Selection techniques include, but are not limited to; eye to eye contact, touch, spatial proximity, and the use of an electronic medium (e.g. phone or computer; real-time programs such as chat or internet phone).

Source

(Adapted from the book “Empathy: A Quantum Approach - The Psychical Influence of Emotion” by Theresa M. Kelly, MsD.)

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