responsometer

A responsometer is a hypothetical or fictional device, often appearing in science fiction, designed to measure or detect an individual's emotional state or level of responsibility. The concept typically involves a mechanism that quantifies an abstract quality, such as guilt, empathy, or a sense of duty.

In fictional narratives, responsometers can serve various plot functions. They might be used to identify criminals, assess character suitability for certain roles, or as a tool for social control. The accuracy and reliability of such a device are usually subject to the narrative's premise, with some stories portraying them as highly effective and others as flawed or easily manipulated.

The term "responsometer" itself combines "response" or "responsibility" with the suffix "-meter," which denotes a measuring instrument. While no known scientific device by this name exists in reality, the concept taps into the human fascination with understanding and quantifying complex psychological and ethical dimensions. It reflects a desire to objectively assess intangible aspects of human behavior and internal experience. The development of actual technologies that could approximate some aspects of a responsometer is an ongoing area of research in fields like affective computing and neuroscience, though these do not carry the same overt name or simplified function.