eugman comments on How is your mind different from everyone else's? - Less Wrong

31 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 05 December 2011 08:38AM

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Comment author: thejash 06 December 2011 01:03:35AM 5 points [-]

I also had an uncomfortably strong level of empathy specifically towards people doing something that would make me uncomfortable, in a social sense. When I watched someone talking and embarrassing themselves in class for example, it felt like my insides were trying to escape my skin.

This actually went away after watching all of the seasons of The Office (the American version).

However, I'm pretty sure I feel an abnormally low amount of empathy for other emotional states in other people (both positive and negative, this was unaffected by watching The Office)

Comment author: eugman 06 December 2011 01:20:56AM 0 points [-]

Have you found any negative consequences from this exposure therapy?

Comment author: thejash 06 December 2011 01:35:22AM 1 point [-]

None that I've noticed It's actually quite nice not to feel personally liable when other people are doing stupid things anymore.

If you're willing to generalize from one data point, I say go for it :)

If you DO go for it, note that most of the benefit came from watching the first two seasons, so if you don't experience any change after that, it probably isn't worth pursuing. Also, I watched it with a bunch of friends who all clearly enjoyed it, so that might be a good detail to replicate if possible.

Also if you try it, let me know how it turns out, I'm really curious.

Comment author: lavalamp 07 December 2011 12:48:44AM 0 points [-]

I've seen the first two or three seasons, and it didn't cure me. :(