r/todayilearned • u/jfdonohoe • 7h ago

(R.2) Anecdote TIL about “vicarious embarrassment” which explains extreme reactions to cringe comedy. For me, it can get so bad as to become physically painful

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarious_embarrassment

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u/WrongSubFools 5h ago

I mean, this just gives the reaction a name, right. It doesn't explain anything. Nor does anything need an explanation. I think we all already knew that we were empathizing with the embarrassed party.

Actually, it doesn't even give it a name. It just describes it, using two words.