Emotional Contagion - Charmed (1998) by Enyjé Sandoz

Charmed (1998)

Season 6, Episode 1: Valhalley of the Dolls: Part 1

“Our social bonds are enhanced through emotion sharing because the support we receive from our relational partners increases our sense of closeness and interdependence. We should also be aware that our expressions of emotion are infectious due to emotional contagion, or the spreading of emotion from one person to another.” - Interpersonal Communication, Glendale Community College (Page 72)

"Are you a self-proclaimed empath? Is your proclivity to feel another's emotions a marker of supernatural prowess? ... Or is it a symptom of emotional contagion?" - Emotional Contagion by Enyjé Sandoz (Communication Studies, AA-T), What is emotional contagion?

The show Charmed (1998) is about three magical, witch sisters. In the sixth season, one of the sisters, Phoebe, discovers she is an empath. During one of the episodes, she begins berating her brother-in-law (using words like “I” or “our son”) and physically assaults him. The oddity of it all was the emotions she experienced were not her own; they belonged to her sister, Piper, but she channeled them. Charmed’s introduction of the power of empathy or an empath was a sensationalized way of discussing the communication theory of emotional contagion. Piper’s suppressed emotions (regarding her husband’s departure to pursue a higher calling) spread to her sister (Phoebe) who had the empath power. The transfer of emotions from Piper to Phoebe relieved Piper (she remained quiet as Phoebe ranted) but impacted Phoebe (she was visibly furious and yelling) as she went through the motions.

Here's a clip of the episode

Charmed - Season 6, Episode 1:

https://youtu.be/m0XGgO-hl0A?si=RYVx9c0gZHsqcG4e&t=135

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