Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is associated with an assortment of characteristics that undermine interpersonal functioning. A lack of empathy is often cited as the primary distinguishing feature of NPD.
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).
Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy and remorse, shallow affect, glibness, manipulation and callousness. Previous research indicates that the rate of psychopathy in prisons is around 23%, greater than the average population which is around 1%.
A lack of empathy is often considered to be one of the distinctive features of narcissism. However, this is not entirely the case.
Personality types ENFP, ENFJ, INFJ, and INFPs are natural empaths per the MBTI Personality types. Empaths are also called Idealists & Diplomats. Highly Sensitive People belong to these MBTI types.
Those who are extroverted, sensing, feeling, and judging are often identified as one of the kindest types by experts. "ESFJs have extroverted feeling as a dominant cognitive function," Gonzalez-Berrios says. "This makes them rule by their hearts. They are kind, polite, friendly, and sensitive."
Empaths are usually introverts, and they require a certain amount of alone time in order to recharge. A study from 2011 suggests there may be a link between highly empathic individuals and social anxiety.
A lack of empathy can be described as “unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.” This lack is a characteristic of narcissism. The lack of empathy is a big red flag.
Low emotional intelligence, burnout, and stress
Emotional intelligence may be linked to empathy. If you haven't developed this type of intelligence, you may also have low empathy. Being under prolonged stress may also lead someone to be less tolerant of other people's behavior and have lower cognitive empathy.
As many psychiatric conditions are associated with deficits or even lack of empathy, we discuss a limited number of these disorders including psychopathy/antisocial personality disorders, borderline and narcissistic personality disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, and alexithymia.
Signs of antisocial personality disorder
A person with antisocial personality disorder may: exploit, manipulate or violate the rights of others. lack concern, regret or remorse about other people's distress. behave irresponsibly and show disregard for normal social behaviour.
People with BPD score low on cognitive empathy but high on emotional empathy. This suggests that they do not easily understand other peoples' perspectives, but their own emotions are very sensitive. This is important because it could align BPD with other neurodiverse conditions.
[...] Psychopaths, on the other hand, are unable to form emotional attachments or feel real empathy with others, although they often have disarming or even charming personalities. Psychopaths are very manipulative and can easily gain people's trust.
The Dark Triad traits, which include narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism, are well-known to many. These traits represent distinct forms of maladaptive behavior that can be used to manipulate others. A dark empath possesses high levels of these traits as well as a high level of empathy.
What is Schizoid Personality Disorder? Schizoid personality disorder is one of many personality disorders. It can cause individuals to seem distant and emotionless, rarely engaging in social situations or pursuing relationships with other people.
Alexithymia is when a person has difficulty experiencing, identifying, and expressing emotions.
When it comes to the survival of intimate relationships, no matter how much love there is between you and your partner, there's no guarantee that you both will be able to empathize—even if you think you're "soulmates." Without empathy, the love in your relationship will end up like "love" as in tennis—one big zero.
Highly intelligent persons are not exactly in the same world as other people (reality is in the eye of the beholder). So they feel far from other people's troubles, or don't understand them. Or they have shaped their brains to escape other people's world when they suffered through social troubles younger (bullying).
Highly intelligent children are more likely to develop higher levels of empathic skills because they are more sensitive to other people's emotional cues, and are better able to understand other people's thoughts and feelings (Hay, Gross, Hoekman, & Rogers, 2007; Lovecky, 2009).
Some people, known as dark empaths, understand the feelings of others but don't feel these feelings themselves. They might act like they care, but deep down, they don't feel sympathy for you or have a desire to help. They use their understanding of your feelings to manipulate you.
The empath concept is controversial. Opinion is divided on whether empaths actually exist. There is also debate around some abilities associated with empaths. For instance, empaths are thought to have special skills in reading others, detecting lying, and healing.
Traditionally, partners sleep in the same bed. However, some empaths never get used to this, no matter how caring a mate is. Nothing personal; they just like their own sleep space.
The short answer: INFJ (Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judgment) is the most complex Myers-Briggs Personality Type. Let's examine INFJs and why this personality type is so complicated.