Duplication Technique: How to Learn to Understand Others

Many of us wish we could better understand what the people we interact with are thinking and feeling. This ability, which psychologists call empathy, can be developed on your own.

“I can’t imagine why he did that…” “I don’t understand your feelings!” Many of us, even if we haven’t said these words out loud, have felt something similar. Sometimes, we really wish we could read other people’s thoughts and emotions. Some people are lucky—they seem to be born with a natural sense of empathy. But what about the rest of us? Are we doomed to remain in the dark? Not at all.

The ability to understand others can be developed. Two simple and engaging exercises can help, both based on a core technique from psychodrama called “Duplication.” When you want or need to better understand someone’s state of mind, you temporarily step into their role, try to think with their head, feel with their body, and voice their state as if you were them.

Method 1: With Strangers

For example, you can practice on someone in public transportation. Mentally imagine that you are that person. Become them. What are you thinking about when you are them? What do you feel? What emotions are you experiencing? Make sure to speak in the first person (not “he is happy,” but “I am happy”), as if you are putting yourself in their shoes.

You may not guess the person’s actual state, and even if you do, you can’t always check. But that’s not the point—the goal is to get used to stepping into someone else’s role and trying on their state of mind. You can also practice this in a park or café. When you finish, don’t forget to “return to yourself”—remind yourself who you are.

Method 2: With Friends

Play a game of “Guessing” with a friend:

1. Ask your friend to participate in an experiment.
2. Place a chair next to theirs so you’re both facing the same direction. A bench or couch works too.
3. Ask your friend to sit quietly for a while (15–20 seconds is enough).
4. Imagine that you are them. You can mimic their posture and try to synchronize your breathing rhythm.
5. Now, from their perspective, voice their state in the first person. For example: “I feel calm and I like this game,” or “I feel a bit annoyed because you’re bothering me with this game and I haven’t finished my coffee.”
6. The person being duplicated should only repeat the part of the message that was accurate. They can’t say “no” or “that’s wrong.” If none of the “duplicator’s” words fit, the friend simply describes their state in their own words.

Here’s how the dialogue might look:

• Duplicator (D): I’m a bit tired; there’s so much work piling up.
• Subject (S): I’m tired because I didn’t get enough sleep today.
• D: If I slept more, I’d feel more energetic.
• S: I’d feel more energetic if this exhausting renovation was finally over.
• D: I don’t like when things are unfinished; it creates constant tension.
• S: I don’t like when things are unfinished; it creates constant tension.

The exercise usually lasts 2–3 minutes. If you want, you can switch roles.

How to Use This Technique

This technique isn’t used directly in everyday conversations. However, if you practice it regularly, you’ll get much better at understanding other people’s thoughts and feelings. This will help you build stronger relationships and resolve conflicts more easily.