Dark empathy is related to narcissism as a part of the “dark triad” (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy). However, unlike narcissists, who are traditionally known for being very low in empathy, dark empaths have a high ability to cognitively empathize—for their own personal gain.
The main difference is that dark empaths just have a higher understanding of other people's feelings. Narcissists don't consider other people and just continuously barrel towards perfection or at least seeming perfect.
Research has revealed that the personality type of the dark empath has the dark triad of traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathic tendencies.
Empaths empathize with people, understand their struggles, and want to be there for them. Narcissists, by contrast, often think highly of themselves and have a sense of grandiosity, believing that they are better than everyone else. They often act as if they deserve admiration and respect without having to give it out.
Dark empaths are emotionally intuitive, and their extroversion makes them extraordinarily good with people. This gives them the perfect ability to utilize their manipulative tactics however they see fit.
Individuals are considered dark empaths when they possess cognitive and/or affective empathy as well as characteristics from the “dark triad” — a collective term for three dark personality traits: Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism.
“To what extent do you agree with this statement: 'I am a narcissist.'” Scientists believe that this question could be all researchers need to make a quick and easy diagnosis of narcissism.
One of the issues in a relationship between an empath and narcissist is that the empath may be resistant to the idea that their partner's behavior is primarily to blame for the relationship's unhealthy nature. They may also refuse to accept that they can't “fix” the other person. Narcissists can change.
Toxic empathy, also called hyper-empathy syndrome, is a type of empathy disorder where one struggles to regulate their emotions and empathizes with others so much it impacts their well-being. This contrasts empathy deficit disorder (EDD), where one lacks the ability to empathize with others.
A professional dating and relationship coach (@jacoblucas101 on TikTok) has said the dark empath is “the most dangerous personality type”, and a recent study calculated that around 19 percent of people in a group of 991 people were dark empaths, so they're not as hard to come by as you'd expect.
Moreover, dark empaths were a little higher in neuroticism, a type of negative thinking, but did not score higher on depression, anxiety or stress. Instead, their neuroticism may reflect sub-traits such as anger, hostility or self-doubt.
Heyoka empath
Heyoka empaths are said to be the rarest and most powerful variety, acting as a spiritual mirror to those around them to assist their growth. The Heyoka's unorthodox approach to life makes others question their own preconceived notions of what's right and wrong, real and fantasy.
Malignant narcissists are often regarded as having the most extreme form of NPD, and while they will have the regular qualities of someone with narcissistic personality disorder, their self-absorption and self-obsession is accompanied by some darker behaviors as well.
Mirroring them, the empath becomes devoid of empathy for the narcissist, turning extremely cold and aiming to destroy their fragile egos. Empaths undergo many traumas and transformations in their lives, a source of their abundant empathy, and possess little ego of their own.
Their honesty and frankness and self-love stump the narcissist when their harsh cold insults used to devalue them don't work. Super empaths have a strong enough self-image to use their empathic powers to defeat even the most cunning and calculated narcissists.
Narcissistic personality disorder involves a pattern of self-centered, arrogant thinking and behavior, a lack of empathy and consideration for other people, and an excessive need for admiration. Others often describe people with NPD as cocky, manipulative, selfish, patronizing, and demanding.
On a deeper, more spiritual level empaths are attracted to narcissists because they represent our inverted selves. Two opposites coming together bring balance. It is alchemy. It is why it can feel like a real magnet pull towards them and why it's so hard to pull away.
Other narcissist "tests" are not at all scientifically validated, such as the so-called narcissist smile test, which claims that you can tell if someone is a narcissist based on how they react if you smile, look them in the eye, and tell them "no" in response to something they ask of you.
Our study, published in Personality and Individual Differences, identified a group of individuals with dark traits who report above average empathic capacities – we call them "dark empaths". Since this study, the dark empath has earned a reputation as the most dangerous personality profile.
Dark empaths can be loving and give us the relationship goals we've always wanted. Yet, under the surface, their actions are designed to manipulate us — not so that we can have what we've always wanted but so that they can achieve their own ends.