Now scientists say empathy is not just something we develop through our upbringing and life experiences - it is also partly inherited. A study of 46,000 people found evidence for the first time that genes have a role in how empathetic we are. And it also found that women are generally more empathetic than men.
Empathy is learned behavior even though the capacity for it is inborn. The best way to think about empathy is an innate capacity that needs to be developed, and to see it as a detail in a larger picture.
If you struggle to notice and relate to other people's feelings, there is some good news. Contrary to popular belief, research shows that empathy is a skill that can be learned and developed over time.
Based on the results of these tests, Melcher and colleagues estimate that affective empathy is between 52-57 percent heritable, whereas cognitive empathy is less determined by genetics—about 27 percent heritable, presumably influenced more by environment and learning experiences.
A lack of empathy is shaped by genetics, according to new research.
Parents, teachers, peers, society, and culture affect how people feel about kindness, empathy, compassion, and helping behaviors. Some conditions may play a role in a lack of empathy such as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), antisocial personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People with narcissism can, in fact, show empathy and work to develop it further if they choose to do so. Many myths about narcissism stem from the belief that all people with this condition are evil and incapable of change, but that just isn't true.
“Sociopaths can be superficially charming, but they are devoid of the healthy interpersonal connection that others have,” Watson said. “They may learn to read emotions and play off of the emotions that are expressed, but they do so in a way that is much different than other people.”
Ages 3–5 years: During preschool, a child's ability to empathize with others grows. Listening skills, responding to others' feelings, understanding of different feelings, and friendships develop.
Research also tells us that childhood experiences significantly influence your ability to empathize or not empathize. Some studies found that children who suffer from abuse, neglect, and are raised in a “hostile family environment” are more prone to antisocial behavior, aggression, and lack of empathy as adults.
Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy and remorse, shallow affect, glibness, manipulation and callousness.
The new study has three important results. First, it found that how empathetic we are is partly due to genetics. Indeed, a tenth of this variation is due to genetic factors. This confirms previous research examining empathy in identical versus non-identical twins.
Some people are more empathetic than others, and the new study revealed that a significant part of how empathetic we are is down to genetics. In fact, 10 percent of the variation in empathy between people is due to genes, according to the research.
Research has shown that empathy is not simply inborn, but can actually be taught. For example, it appears that medical training can actually diminish empathy, but on the other hand, physicians can be taught to be more empathic to their patients.
A dark empath is a term that describes someone who exploits their ability to understand how other people think and feel. They can recognize another person's perspective while also showing signs of psychopathy, narcissism and Machiavellianism.
Renowned psychologists Daniel Goleman and Paul Ekman have identified three components of empathy: Cognitive, Emotional and Compassionate.
These deficits are likely to be related to dysfunctions in a wide brain network involved in empathy, including the vmPFC/OFC and amygdala. And because a lack of sharing of vicarious negative arousal in these individuals, this may result in not showing empathic concern for others.
A lack of empathy characterizes empathy Deficit Disorder. Someone with Empathy Deficit Disorder or EDD may struggle to make and maintain social connections. They may find it difficult to grasp that a person who is hurting emotionally didn't cause their own pain, and they may be dismissive or entitled.
A lack of empathy is often considered to be one of the distinctive features of narcissism. However, this is not entirely the case.
Narcissists may gaslight someone because they are insecure or have low self-esteem. Narcissists may also gaslight as a way to manipulate or hurt someone and may also do it to gain power or control over someone. And finally, narcissists may gaslight someone because they want to keep them from leaving the relationship.
But researchers have discovered that far from being an immutable trait, empathy can be developed. There are steps people can take to acknowledge their biases and to move beyond their own worldviews to try to understand those held by other people. Bonus: You'll make new friends along the way.
Research confirms that people in power have lower levels of empathy compared to those who lack power. Those in power are simply not that interested in those below them. They view themselves as different and above others. The way people with power view their surroundings is different too.
Empathy is a choice and something that can be modulated
That is why our brain is equipped with mechanisms that can make us balance between the extremes of being overly altruistic or merely egoistic. People often think that empathy is something you have or you don't have.
People who have high empathy may have an amygdala that is more responsive to distress signals than others. The amygdala responds to fear, sadness, and pain. A person who is empathetic may be less likely to be aggressive toward a person displaying these emotions due to their amygdala's response.