Economist George Lowenstein developed a theory named the empathy gap. The empathy gap is the state we come to when we’ve just had a cold or hot state. A hot state consists of emotions such as courage, lust and sexual behaviors. A cold state is considered to be when the person is calmer and can think with a clear mind. A lot of us know what it is to be in a cold state and in a hot state. For example a hot state can be when we’ve had too many drinks and just by someone pushing us a little we get aggravated. You might say anyone would get a bothered if anyone pushes them but the difference is now you’re in a hot state; you no longer think it might have been in accident. The point is you have too much liquor in your system and the only thing you want to do is get into a fight. Being in a hot state you don’t think of the consequences for example a fight or things that might affect you in the future that maybe that fight just got you arrested. In hot states the only thing you think of the right now. But if you take the same situation and subtract the liquor the outcome is to be much different. Yes, the same guy pushed you in the same place the only difference is your mind is calm and is cleared. Knowing yourself it was an accident you won’t throw the first hit nor might a fight even break out. You know in your mind it isn’t worth getting into a fight for a simple shoulder rub. The empathy gap for me was more of the “what would we do”? If were in a cold state and someone asked me a question that takes place in a hot state. This is what Lowenstein is saying in he’s theory, can we do what we say we would do. If you give us a situation and have someone make a guess about the out come would there answer be correct. To me the answer is no, I know if I myself was to be asked a question in a cold state that deals in a hot state that moment I might think about my outcomes but truth in reality is that what I said wont be entirely true. People have certain things that can get them mad and don’t take time to place themselves in a cold state. The truth is that majority of the human population is going to say what they think sounds good and not the honest truth. Anyone can use the empathy gap method the only question is, which of those people can actually stand by there word.?
