Related Articles:【Emotional Contagion vs. Empathy: A Comparison】
The Emotional Language: Encoding, Decoding, and the Essence of Empathy
If we were to draw an analogy about emotional contagion and empathy, it would be this: emotions act like a complex system of encoding and decoding, reminiscent of data processing in the digital world.
Encoding of Emotions: Just as data is transformed into a code or a format that can be easily transmitted or stored, emotions are also encoded based on our personal experiences, cultural contexts, and innate reactions. This encoding defines how we internalize and prepare our feelings for expression or communication.
Transmission & Reception: Once emotions are encoded, they are then transmitted through our actions, words, and non-verbal cues. Just as encoded data travels through a medium, our encoded emotions reach out to others around us. Those around us receive these emotional signals, much like a device or system receives transmitted data.
Decoding of Emotions: Upon receiving these signals, individuals then decode them based on their own experiences, biases, and understandings. This decoding process interprets the emotional message, converting it back into a form (feelings or reactions) that the receiver can understand and react to.
Feedback Loop: Often, the receiver then encodes their response, and the cycle continues. This mutual exchange can be likened to a continuous loop of encoding, transmitting, decoding, and re-encoding, which is the essence of empathy.
Furthermore, introspective realizations, mysterious imagery, dreams filled with uninterpretable scenes and emotions, can be likened to debug points in a system, signaling areas requiring attention and understanding.
I believe that this feedback loop, when executed in a state where the boundaries between self and others become indistinguishable, can lead to co-dependency, especially when it manifests in socially irregular, self-destructive, or catastrophic ways. I don't see the inability to recognize boundaries as an issue in itself. In intimate relationships, I believe it can be crucial.
