A lack of empathy is something I definitely don't have. If anything, I may have too much empathy. I can't stand to watch anyone suffer and I try to help people who are in need whenever I can. If I have offended someone unintentionally or even feel like I may have, it'll stay on my mind for a while and bother me. Anxiety aside, I tend to hold back in my interactions with others because I'm always trying to consider how someone might feel if I do this or say that. Seeing people cry, even if they're acting, is enough to make me shed a tear. My sister used to get annoyed watching shows and movies with me because I would cry when actors cried. She'd be like "why are you crying?" I'd be like "how are you not crying right now? It's so sad. She's hurting." I'm a person of great sensitivity, which I consider a gift and a curse - a curse because I tend to take things personally and I don't have very thick skin; a gift because I'm very compassionate and caring, so much so that I just might have saved a few lives.
SA sufferers may lack empathy
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Bronson99
Well-known member
A lack of empathy need not be associated with narcissism exclusively. It is also frequently associated with the developmental disorders (autism, Asperger's, and AD/HD are all under this umbrella.)
I have ADD and some traits that resemble Asperger's. I think what I have is high sympathy/compassion (if this is the aspect that is purely emotional, and does not imply action/reciprocity?), but either very low, or very inconsistent, empathy. Generally I will not help others if I don't have to.. it is not a malicious response in most cases, it's an apathetic/disinterested response. I just have no "natural pull" to get out there and help others, it is somehow missing with me. This does not mean I feel as if I'm "above" those who need help.. it does however mean I tend to be self-interested, and do not want to be disturbed out of my daily routines.
But as far as things like this: if there's someone in a workplace everyone dumps on, I feel for that, I'll be the one person to treat them well. If a horrible disaster happens somewhere, I will share in that pain. If someone is having a laugh at someone else's looks or disability, I will try to correct their thinking.
The problem is pretty much 1) no reciprocity 2) inaction. I don't do what is expected, and I tend not to get out there and help, because simply it's just not on my mind. Of course, this causes serious problems. It's not a quality anyone should seek to emulate!
I have ADD and some traits that resemble Asperger's. I think what I have is high sympathy/compassion (if this is the aspect that is purely emotional, and does not imply action/reciprocity?), but either very low, or very inconsistent, empathy. Generally I will not help others if I don't have to.. it is not a malicious response in most cases, it's an apathetic/disinterested response. I just have no "natural pull" to get out there and help others, it is somehow missing with me. This does not mean I feel as if I'm "above" those who need help.. it does however mean I tend to be self-interested, and do not want to be disturbed out of my daily routines.
But as far as things like this: if there's someone in a workplace everyone dumps on, I feel for that, I'll be the one person to treat them well. If a horrible disaster happens somewhere, I will share in that pain. If someone is having a laugh at someone else's looks or disability, I will try to correct their thinking.
The problem is pretty much 1) no reciprocity 2) inaction. I don't do what is expected, and I tend not to get out there and help, because simply it's just not on my mind. Of course, this causes serious problems. It's not a quality anyone should seek to emulate!
Steiner
Well-known member
I tend to agree with it when I look at myself and see that my SA came from narcissism and OCD tendencies.
StandingJelly
Well-known member
Sorry for asking if this is very wrong, but do you happen to have been diagnosed as a sociopath? Those thoughts you had thought were truly lacking in empathy. I actually think I have too much empathy, that life would be easier if I didn't care as much.
Anyway, empathy can be learnt, so you may be learning this emotion right now.
Bronson99
Well-known member
I think it's the wrong thing to ask him.
Read my post above this, I think the OP has the exact same thing. I'm not a sociopath, at least. I do have traits of narcissism but to those who think narcissism *causes* Social Anxiety? Total BS. I believe it's far more likely narcissism results from social anxiety.
Jungle
1
Lack of empathy is certainly something I do not have; In fact I am like "living for people"... always trying to get into people's heads to predict what they might think of me if I do this or that , that's like extreme kindness , because your subconscious is somehow telling you "be nice to people if you want them to be nice to you in return".
I don't know how it is for you guys.... but for me this kind of behaviour has its drawbacks, from my personal experience I can count : irritability for trivial things, holding grudges for even the slightest thing and not letting it go until the "offender" apologizes , not thinking about your well-being in the first place.
The worst of all are people taking advantage of your kindness to screw you over, that's just pure wickedness, and I would hold a grudge for life on this sort of people.
so no, SA sufferers may lack empathy.....not
I don't know how it is for you guys.... but for me this kind of behaviour has its drawbacks, from my personal experience I can count : irritability for trivial things, holding grudges for even the slightest thing and not letting it go until the "offender" apologizes , not thinking about your well-being in the first place.
The worst of all are people taking advantage of your kindness to screw you over, that's just pure wickedness, and I would hold a grudge for life on this sort of people.
so no, SA sufferers may lack empathy.....not
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