Toxic empathy is when a person over-identifies with someone else's feelings and directly takes them on as their own. For example, feeling anxious for a friend when they're facing stress at work can be normal.
Despite being highly attuned to the feelings of others, many empaths find it difficult to relate to others. Others might not understand why you become exhausted and stressed so quickly. You might struggle to understand the emotions and feelings you absorb or feel like you aren't “normal.”
A psychopath can have a very high form of cognitive empathy, too. In fact, they are very good at reading other people. They seem like they can read minds sometimes. But even though they can understand people's emotions, it doesn't register emotionally with them—they have no emotional empathy.
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.
Empaths are the opposite of narcissists. While people with narcissistic personality disorder have no empathy, and thrive on the need for admiration, empaths are highly sensitive and in tune with other people's emotions. Empaths are "emotional sponges," who can absorb feelings from other people very easily.
What is the INFP personality type (The Empath)? People with an INFP personality type tend to be reserved, idealistic, and adaptable in their behavior. They are curious people, often lost in thought.
An empath is a particularly sensitive person, someone who is able to feel and experience exactly what others do. While empaths can make wonderful caring friends, in a romantic relationship they can often find it difficult because they tend to quickly become very intense.
Similarly, many empaths become physicians, nurses, dentists, physical therapists, psychotherapists, social workers, teachers, yoga instructors, Chinese medical practitioners, massage therapists, clergy, hospice workers, life coaches, or volunteers or employees of non-profit organizations among other heart-felt jobs.
Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterised by superficial charm, pathological lying and a reduced ability to empathise with others or show remorse. The study included 18 individuals with psychopathy and a control group, and consisted of three parts.
Dark empathy is a trait describing someone who understands another's emotions but can't feel them. People with dark empathy could use gaslighting and charm to manipulate the people close to them. A dark empath may also tell a lot of sarcastic jokes, gossip, and bully others.
“Machiavellians are sly, deceptive, distrusting, and manipulative. They are characterized by cynical and misanthropic beliefs, callousness, a striving for … money, power, and status, and the use of cunning influence tactics.
It would be tough to overdo kindness or compassion, but when you feel deeply for others, it can put a tremendous amount of stress on you. Experiencing your own tension as well as the pain, anxiety or trauma of others can be extreme. And it can compromise your own health—and also degrade your ability to give.
Empaths can understand the depth of emotional suffering and are great at listening and offering advice. Therapists can work in private practices, clinics, hospitals, rehab facilities and mental health centers.
When coming back to the Myers Briggs personality types, those who are ESFP, ISFP, ENFP, INFP, INFJ, and ENFJ show the greatest ability to empathize with others. Some of those personality types are better at showing cognitive empathy and others are better at showing emotional empathy.
Romantic relationships with two empathic partners are often passionate, satisfying, and have a profound heart connection. You really get each other and most likely won't run into any of the usual boyfriend problems. Empaths tend to be honest people with a lot of integrity.
An empath can fall in love with whoever they want to, but it may not work out if the person they fall for isn't able to express their feelings. In the case of empaths romantic relationships, they will be more compatible with someone who isn't afraid to show emotions and will allow others to as well.
Respect boundaries: Empaths may need more alone time than other people, so it's important to respect their need for space. Also, be mindful of your own needs and set boundaries with an empath partner because sometimes empaths can be emotionally draining, as they tend to take on others' feelings and struggles.
“Empaths tend to excel in industries that provide a service to others—like hospitality, medical, teaching, and social work,” Enjolie says. “The jobs in these industries require an enhanced sense of intuition, sensitivity, and connection in order to effectively serve others.”
The balance of empathy takes strength, it is a skill and ability of those who are centered and strong. One of the most challenging aspects of empathy is to step out of our own private world. Empathy is the opposite of self-absorption and narcissism.
Advanced empathy is the ability to detect non-verbal cues from other people that provide insight into their emotional states, and also, to verbalize those nonverbal cues in a manner that fits with their experiences. Often advanced empathy occurs at a level that can be subconscious.