Are bookworms more empathetic?

[African_Love]

For the purpose of this thread, by 'empathy' I don't mean a moral concern for the well-being of others but the capacity to imagine another person's point of view or mental state.

I ask because I've read a few articles claiming that fiction either increases empathy or empathetic people tend to be more interested in novels than are less empathetic people, psychologists are unsure but there is a definite correlation. What do you think?

[applepie]

I would have to say that, by your definition of empathy provided, they certainly are more empathetic. Part of the reason that people read voraciously is the vicarious enjoyment of experiencing things without ever having to do them. I'll never be a spy or a lady in the court of King Louis XIV, but I can still experience aspects through stories that I read. If you are incapable of putting yourself into someone's shoes then you miss something with fictional stories.

I tend to find that people who are less empathetic will gravitate to a certain type of fiction. It often has underdeveloped characters and themes. I liken it a bit to watching a action flick. They also tend to prefer non fiction works and even technical journals. Then you have people like me who can throw themselves into a book. I read fiction pretty extensively, though much of it is just mass market, and I love the ability to experience different worlds and attitudes that I don't otherwise possess.

[dfloyd]

people, characters in a book, or a books subject matter is the qualification of an avid fiction reader. I feel I don't possess a lot of empathy, but love to read the great novels of American, French, English, and Russian writers. I love to read for knowledge, and I prefer fiction over most factual books. I read on these posts how a certain character or novelist irritates a reader. This would never happen to me. I don't put myself into the role of any character. I read strictly for enjoyment and knowledge.

[skib]

I would tend to agree. I am said to be an empathetic person, and sometimes I am. I am also a sucker for a good fiction book. I have, however, known people that live in a fiction series who have no empathy towards anyone or anything at all. It sounds good to me, though it obviously doesn't apply to 100 percent of people who fall into either category.

[mona amon]

Empathy for people in real life involves putting youself in their place, and is of course easier if you've actually been in their place at some time. But it's enough if you can stretch your imagination and try to really understand what that person is going through, which is not so easy for someone like me. I'm usually sympathetic, but empathy is really difficult.

Empathy for fictional characters depends on how well the author presents his/her case. A good writer is able to work on one's imagination and make one really feel what the character is going through. No matter how many times I read it, the gang rape of the 'concubine' in the Old Testament (Judges Chapter 19) always shocks me to the core, while I might read equally terrible things in the news and feel only horror, but no real empathy. It's the way the story is written, the description of her lying dead with her hand outstretched towards the threshold of her house. It makes me think of what she must have suffered and her lonely death at dawn, trying to get back to her folks who sent her out to her plight and almost but not quite making it.

In short, I do not feel that people who read a lot are necessarily more empathetic than those who don't. It depends on the extent to which one can enter into a person's feelings by using only one's own imagination, and without the helping hand of literature.

[Virgil]

No way. They might actually be less. Haven't you wished that a fictional character were dead and justice done with the harshest of brutality? Don't people cheer when the villain is killed? ;)

[skib]

Stop poking holes, Virgil! ;)

[Modest Proposal]

As far as stereotypes go, fiction readers can be empathetic with characters but completely disconnected from people and even disdainful of them in reality.

[Virgil]

Stop poking holes, Virgil! ;)

:lol: :lol: You liked that I take it.

[aquarium444]

For the purpose of this thread, by 'empathy' I don't mean a moral concern for the well-being of others but the capacity to imagine another person's point of view or mental state.

I ask because I've read a few articles claiming that fiction either increases empathy or empathetic people tend to be more interested in novels than are less empathetic people, psychologists are unsure but there is a definite correlation. What do you think?

Of course this is true, but it might depend upon what exactly you are reading. It might not be an advantage to be empathetic in life, but it certainly makes for good quality reading although some novels could go overboard. Without the ability to understand a text by relating to it, you can not make progress into the more involved books.

What you should get is a broader range of understanding and experience in cultures and a view of the human side of history in addition to factual knowledge which you might be encouraged to research. I don't know what good it will do you though, but than how could I know if I am stuck reading Harry Potter for the rest of my life.

[Lulim]

No way. They might actually be less. Haven't you wished that a fictional character were dead and justice done with the harshest of brutality? Don't people cheer when the villain is killed? ;)
But then, the "villain" behaved probably badly towards other characters within the book, so the people are cheering with an / because of an interest in that characters.

[kiki1982]

Haven't you wished that a fictional character were dead and justice done with the harshest of brutality? Don't people cheer when the villain is killed? ;)

:lol:

They actually did research on this and apparently it's natural. My husband always says that I am not allowed to laugh, but I can't help it, that's always the first thing I do if someone falls over. That doesn't mean though, that I would not help them afterwards or that I don't think that he must have been hurt, although I guess that then they don't want your help any longer? :(

Anyway, on this topic.

As you define empathy, then yes I tend to analyse people's behaviour a lot more than others.

A friend always used to end up talking about his man in conversations with me: he lends her money, he is himself divorced, but seeing another woman, he still goes with my friend to her lawyer (divorce business for her too) and everything. She asked me what she had to think of it. I said: 'Maybe I read too many books, but...' :lol: He is all over her, wishing to see her when he likes, buying her presents, going for dinner occasionally, but she is not enough all over him (scared to be hurt) so he doubts her reaction. He starts to see another woman and she makes out (to me) that she finds it sad for himself because that is not what he wants. :lol: I told her to confront him with his own behaviour (being all over her) and ask him what is the deal, hoping that she would also start to think about herself. She did not, but he still went to the lawyer with her and supported her through a difficult period. I don't know what is happening now, but really, just do it man. She'll say yes to a LAT-relationship at least. Having been disillusioned in an earlier relationship (exchanged for another younger model) she is of course not jumping to it, but a gentle guy can certainly get in there.

Or my hubby's boss... She likes to play controlling games with him (hold the boat, push it away, then tightenting the ropes again...). I don't think she realises that he knows. :D

I don't know whether that has anything to do with reading at all, but that is certainly recognisable from great classics (I am not in love at all! nononono).

Then again, the question is whether what people write in novels is necessarily true, or that it is a fabricated way of seeing people already developed in the ancient world... Because, if that is the case, we better start doing empirical research instead of reading to develop skills like this... ;)

[dfloyd]

since I was rooting for Uriah Heap to win out over David Copperfield.

[Virgil]

:lol:

They actually did research on this and apparently it's natural. My husband always says that I am not allowed to laugh, but I can't help it, that's always the first thing I do if someone falls over. That doesn't mean though, that I would not help them afterwards or that I don't think that he must have been hurt, although I guess that then they don't want your help any longer? :(

Glad you liked my insight. ;)


since I was rooting for Uriah Heap to win out over David Copperfield.

Oh God. I couldn't stand Uriah Heep. I was hoping he would be horse whipped by the end of the novel. :lol:

[applepie]

No way. They might actually be less. Haven't you wished that a fictional character were dead and justice done with the harshest of brutality? Don't people cheer when the villain is killed? ;)

Ahhh, but you often cheer when the villain is killed because you feel sorry for the victims :D

I suppose it doesn't apply to the everyone, but I think the discussion is a bit away from the definition of empathy that was provided.

the capacity to imagine another person's point of view or mental state.

I really think that this is almost necessary to an extent for fiction reading.

[blp]

Yes, and they're sexier too.