This article was co-authored by Liana Georgoulis, PsyD and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Dr. Liana Georgoulis is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years of experience, and is now the Clinical Director at Coast Psychological Services in Los Angeles, California. She received her Doctor of Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2009. Her practice provides cognitive behavioral therapy and other evidence-based therapies for adolescents, adults, and couples.
There are 32 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Empathy involves understanding what another person is feeling and experiencing—not just how you would feel if you were in the same situation.[1] Empathy exists on a spectrum and it's super rare for someone to have no empathy at all. The best part is that empathy is an ability that you can improve. Read on for a complete guide to lack of empathy, from signs and causes to how to increase empathy in yourself or others.
Things You Should Know
- Signs of low empathy include being overly critical, having poor listening skills, responding inappropriately, and not being able to handle emotional situations.
- Increase empathy with regular practice, including listening actively, asking open-ended questions, and exposing yourself to different opinions.
- Causes of low empathy include personality disorders, emotional burnout, sleep deprivation, and a lack of socialization in childhood.
Steps
wikiHow Quiz: Am I a Narcissist or an Empath?
Expert Q&A
Tips
References
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/empathic-minds/202305/fools-empathy-and-how-to-avoid-it
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/empathy.htm
- ↑ https://sites.tufts.edu/emotiononthebrain/2014/10/24/failures-of-empathy-the-killer-with-no-remorse-psychopathy/
- ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-us-has-an-empathy-deficit/
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/empathy.htm
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anger-in-the-age-of-entitlement/202204/how-to-overcome-the-limitations-of-empathy
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-a-new-home/202212/the-surprising-reason-some-people-always-blame-others
- ↑ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0248409
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/empathy.htm
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/peaceful-parenting/202302/3-ways-a-partner-displays-a-lack-of-empathy
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/empathy.htm
- ↑ https://sites.tufts.edu/emotiononthebrain/2014/10/24/failures-of-empathy-the-killer-with-no-remorse-psychopathy/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindful-relationships/202305/teaching-children-empathy
- ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150829123819.htm
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/11/feature-cultivating-empathy
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/empathy.htm
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2018/04/how-to-develop-empathy-for-someone-who-annoys-you
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/11/feature-cultivating-empathy
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/empathy.htm
- ↑ https://ideas.ted.com/5-exercises-to-help-you-build-more-empathy/
- ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150829123819.htm
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692
- ↑ https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/docs/default-source/ektron-files/reflective-listening-neil-katz-and-kevin-mcnulty.pdf
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/peaceful-parenting/202302/3-ways-a-partner-displays-a-lack-of-empathy
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-well-when-your-body-doesnt-cooperate/202306/cultivating-empathy-through-pain
- ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_habits_of_highly_empathic_people1
- ↑ https://ideas.ted.com/5-exercises-to-help-you-build-more-empathy/
- ↑ https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families/5-tips-cultivating-empathy
- ↑ https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families/5-tips-cultivating-empathy
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9636-personality-disorders-overview
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/empathy.htm
- ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-with-autism-can-read-emotions-feel-empathy1/
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1362361320919286
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27583766/
- ↑ https://www.nature.com/articles/srep40700
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361318824104?journalCode=auta
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18282326/
- ↑ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326451
- ↑ https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/what-is-alexithymia-alexithymia-defined-and-explained
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-emotional-intensity/202102/alexithymia-do-you-know-what-you-feel
- ↑ https://www.endocrinology.org/press/press-releases/people-with-low-oxytocin-levels-suffer-reduced-empathy/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25117004/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/empathy-fatigue-how-stress-and-trauma-can-take-a-toll-on-you/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6533135/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6533135/