Explore Empathy Labs
Photos by Amy Do
Click images to enlarge carousels
Intake Forms
Upon arrival, Participants filled out an intake form to better inform the Proctors' examination.
You can see anonymous answers collaged under the Intake Forms subtab beneath Participant Artifacts.
Click here to download the full Intake Form
Experiment No. 1
Based on cognitive empathy, or the ability to take in someone else's perspective, Participants must work together to reconstruct a projected configuration with items in the room.
The experiment is repeated twice, once with a Participant holding an arm behind their back, and once more with a Participant blindfolded. Participants alternate selecting whether they or their partner will receive the inhibitor.
Experiment No. 2
Based on emotional empathy, or the capacity to tap into another's emotional experiences, Participants are split up between the Proctors to conduct simultaneous reflections.
One Participant is led through a hallway of lit CDs, while the other through carpet layered over bubble wrap.
In the second experiment, Proctors refer to in take forms and personal observations from Experiment No. 1 to lead a reflection.
Participants create original drawings, which can be seen in the Drawings subtab beneath Participant Artifacts.
Proctors attempt to employ empathy towards Participants through mindreading, though it has not yet proven to be successful.
Experiment No. 3
Proctors leave Participants alone to encounter one last experiment based on compassion, or the urge to act for someone else.
Participants take turns playing a prompt from the cassette recorder, pausing, and documenting the others' responses on notecards. They lastly pin the notecards to the wall. Participants can stay and talk as long as they are compelled to.
To see anonymous answers, see the Wall Responses subtab beneath Participant Artifacts.
Exit
Upon completing Experiment No. 3, Participants are free to leave.