Right, so here's how it works.
Our emotions are not nearly as internal as we think they are. Lie detectors work based on this fact. Does a lie detector employ some mystical process to tell when an individual is prevaricating? Clearly not - rather it reads such signs as heart rate, blood pressure and moisture levels on the skin to determine if an individual is feeling nervous. With proper training and the right techniques, an individual can correlate this information with a recorded or live interview to determine which statements the interviewee believes to be true and which he or she believes false.
Empathy works in the same way. Through either conscious or unconscious study, it's possible to pick up on such indicators as posture, facial expression, speech mannerisms, gesturing and so on to determine an individual's emotional and physical state. These cues are myriad and extremely subtle in nature, down to such things as whteher somebody has one or both hands in their pockets of how their fingers are curled. It's further possible, due to the fallible nature of human memory, to even convince yourself after the fact that you felt a 'vibe' from an individual that you didn't register at the time. This can go so far as to attribute a muscular twinge (which we all get constantly, whether we notice them or not) to 'sympathy pain' with an individual, or even to imagine a pain that wasn't there for the purpose.
Am I saying it's impossible that such a mechanism exists? No, of course not. It hasn't been proven either way. I'm simply pointing out that there are much more plausible explanations than some mystical vibe you pick up off of someone.
Ronin Tetsuro - I often know who's calling me despite not having caller id. There's nothing otherworldly about this. I know who in my circle of friends and family are likely to call me at given times of day due to work schedules and habits. Further, when I suspect a specific caller is behind that ring and I'm wrong, I don't note it. It's only when I'm right that it seems unusual and registers. It's a bit like the
street lamp phenomenon.
Got another example of clairvoyance?