What is the behavior of being influenced by others' negative emotions

Being influenced by negative emotions from others is called emotional contagion or empathy fatigue in psychology. Emotional contagion refers to the phenomenon of unconsciously absorbing the emotional state of others, while empathy fatigue is the psychological exhaustion caused by long-term exposure to negative emotions. This phenomenon is related to factors such as mirror neuron activity, emotional regulation ability, personality traits, environmental stress, and blurred psychological boundaries. Emotional contagion is a natural mechanism of human social interaction, transmitted through nonverbal signals such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. The mirror neuron system enables individuals to automatically mimic the emotional expressions of others, resulting in similar internal experiences. Highly sensitive individuals, healthcare workers, psychological counselors, and other professional groups are more likely to experience this phenomenon due to the sensitivity of their nervous system or the nature of their work that requires continuous processing of others' emotions. Empathy fatigue is common in situations where one is in a high-pressure emotional environment for a long time, such as caring for critically ill patients or handling crisis events. Individuals may experience emotional numbness, avoidance behavior, or vicarious trauma, which is related to inadequate emotional regulation strategies and lack of psychological support. Certain personality traits such as high empathy and introverted personality can exacerbate this effect, while individuals with anxiety or depression tendencies may also be more susceptible to emotional regulation dysfunction.

It is recommended to reduce negative impacts by establishing clear psychological boundaries, practicing mindfulness meditation, and regularly engaging in emotional release. Maintaining regular exercise can help improve emotional resistance, and ensuring at least 7 hours of sleep per day can stabilize nervous system function. If you are unable to get rid of the emotional influence of others for a long time and experience symptoms such as insomnia and changes in appetite, you should seek professional psychological help in a timely manner. Cultivating hobbies and social support systems can also effectively buffer the infiltration of negative emotions.