Fantastic to see you posting again!!!
(this one nearly slipped under the radar..)
A great post, and it made me understand myself just a little more...
As an 'empathic retard' ( I really have very little emotional empathy), but I definitely posses some form (cognitive?) of empathy.
I haven't come across any studies on neuropsychology suggesting the lack of emotional empathy might be inherited. But, if I may give my opinion, I believe this has more to do with learnt (or 'unlearnt') behaviour than inherited factors, as it was briefly discussed here too.
Coming from a 'lack of any empathy' family, (even cognitive), I would say this definitely influences the tools that you have in your arsenal as an adult.( or don't have).
Psychopaths can definitely feel some form of empathy. A family member most probably fitted into this category.
He 'loved' his dogs.
Hi @lucylin 😊
It is wonderful to hear this! Thank you for saying it :D
Given what you detailed here about your family; yes, I would say you can draw from cognitive empathy in order to acknowledge the suffering of others. You may not feel it in your 'heart', but you can appreciate when someone is distressed. It must be tricky to grow up in an environment where people are oblivious to one's pain.
Yep, it turns out that psychopaths can feel empathy. The example you gave here, interestingly, is a very common one! It turns out that psychopaths cry their eyes out when a pet dies. I suppose it was this sort of emotional reaction that pushed neuropsychologists to look a bit further.
This is, apparently, mostly because of cognitive empathy, though. But they just seem to be able to switch it on and off 'at will'. It is an interesting body of research, which I am not familiar with in great depth, thus far.
Well, thank you for coming around once again!
I wish you and Lucy a great week ahead! :D
Au contraire , thank YOU for coming around once again!
😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂
Someone reading this will think that the last time I posted was three months ago! :P