TikTokers have had it with empaths. But are empaths even a thing?
A psychologist tells us what the term actually means.
Updated:
Originally Published:
Empaths are all over pop culture right now, and #empath is trending on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. But even though the term “empath” has become ubiquitous (to the point of mockery), is it a legitimate identity marker?
As you might guess, “empath” is derived from the word “empathy,” and used to describe a person with deeply empathetic personality traits. People on social media often tout “empath” as a psychological term, but it’s actually not.
The term “empath” actually comes to us from fiction, more specifically science fiction.
Tap
