Aeon Student Guide: Empathy (Patreon)

Empaths make up 39% of all Ments, or 3.9% percent of the general population. Among Ments, Empaths are unique in that their primary ability of sensing emotions isn’t inhibited by other people’s mental shields. 

Unlike telepathy, empathy is a power derived from supercharged observation and inference (similar to precognition). While there is some level of Z-wave engagement between the Empath and their subject, an Empath primarily “reads” emotions by picking up on and deciphering signals which would normally go undetected. This includes subtle shifts in heartrate, increased capillary flow, and micro expressions. Many Level 6 and Level 7 Empaths require physical contact to get a reading, relying on additional information such as body temperature.

All this induction occurs almost immediately and on a subconscious level, with a hypersensitivity well beyond what can be taught through the study of kinetics. Even more uniquely, however, is what an Empath’s brain does after sensing another’s emotions: an Empath undergoes the exact physiological changes as the person whom they’re reading. This means that an Empath physically experiences the exact same emotions as the person being read, although the Empath won’t be able identify why these emotions are being felt (unlike a Telepath, who would be able to read the thought process behind the physiological response but not be able to gauge the severity of emotional reaction). Some Empaths report having difficulty "shaking off" the sensation of others' emotions.

Despite the fact that their primary power isn’t diminished by mental shields, Empaths have historically been the most accepted of Ment types. Different theories exist as to why this is the case, but most scholars agree that their powers meant that Empaths were uniquely positioned to appeal to their would-be persecutors. Many cult leaders and spiritual advisors were Empaths, including Rasputin and Nostradamus (the latter of whom is often mistakenly identified as a Precog).

The highest level Empaths also possess the power to manipulate the feelings of those around them. Unlike their ability to sense emotions, this trait is guarded against by everyone’s natural psychic blocks. In order for an Empath to exert emotional control, an individual must willingly drop their mental guards (similar to letting a Telepath read one’s thoughts). Thus, modern-day incidents of Empath abuse are exceedingly rare. Those that do occur are immediately put a stop to by Unity’s AMO teams.

Today, many Empaths choose to work remotely due to their sensitivity to touch. Those that join the in-person workforce frequently take up jobs as councilors and therapists, using their abilities help others process and heal from emotional trauma.