Empaths are real because most people don't care how they affect others, amirite?

I feel like someone can be empathetic and have high levels of empathy. But once they start telling me how much of an empath they are, it becomes more of a braggy and arrogant thing.

by Eriklarson 4 weeks ago

I mean yeah I wouldn't necessarily agree everyone who says "I'm an empath" is one. Just that empaths exist as majority people can't put themselves in others shoes

by Kirstenkulas 4 weeks ago

I hate being an empath. You get used a lot.

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

I think you are confusing being an empath with being a people pleasing doormat.

by howealva 4 weeks ago

It's also a huge red flag that they aren't particularly intelligent.

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

Anybody who tells everybody that they're an empath is more than likely just self centered.

by Just_Pin6643 4 weeks ago

Yes and no. Some people really are just able to empathize with others. I don't think stating that fact alone ceases that ability. I think people often think they're empath cause they can understand someone's motivations but if they don't "make sense " to a majority of people most people are unable to empathize with. So I think most people misuse the term

by Kirstenkulas 4 weeks ago

I think it can make sense for a psychologist to use the world empath to describe the way a certain person behaves when in an abusive relationship but people who call themselves empaths spontaneously don't strike me as someone who would be especially empathetic

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

Personally I've only seen it used in a legit way by psychologists describing abusive relationships such as a narcissist loves validation and talking about themselves so early in the relationship they will be attracted to empaths and people pleasers who adapt their behavior to their mood and validate them. I don't think it even necessarily means someone with exceptional empathy, just someone with normal empathy who approached a certain relationship with empathy and their feelings were used by someone else to get what they wanted. To me just randomly saying you are an empath outside the psychological analysis of a relationship doesn't even make sense

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

I think some people are absolutely more empathetic than others, but people who loudly advertise themselves as empaths have "I'm a NICE GUY" energy 90% of the time

by clara17 4 weeks ago

This makes sense

by Kirstenkulas 4 weeks ago

Empath is a made up word to make people feel superior. Some people have more compassion than others, but there's no label for it. In fact, when I hear someone call themselves an "empath", it's an immediate red flag they carry narcissistic traits without knowing.

by Margarettestant 4 weeks ago

Having a high level of Empathy is often a symptom of trauma. Being hyper sensitive to the emotions of others is an adaptive function to survive an emotionally unsafe environment

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

Pain

by Kirstenkulas 4 weeks ago

I guess you could say that, but even so, it seems Majority of people struggle with it. While for others it's an instant reflex

by Kirstenkulas 4 weeks ago

I do agree with you that the majority of ppl struggle to be empathetic to the general public. And some people even see compassion and empathy as a weakness and I don't think it is. You just need to be careful who you open your heart to and how much.

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

people can be empathetic and caring, which is indeed more rare than it should be. However, these so-called empaths act like they have some paranormal godly superpower for empathy and reading others, and I am not buying it.

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

I think most people are truly only concerned with themselves and only think of themselves. I'm quite skeptical of this. Why do you think the majority of people care nothing at all about anyone but themselves?

by Ambitious_Shift 4 weeks ago

Yep you're right. Part of being empathetic is also being observant, which many are not. It may not be so much they don't care, but they may not see what's going on or have never experienced something themselves. But you're right that empathy in many cases will not win you any special favors from life, unless the person you are being empathetic to is also caring. I speak from experience the more numb and indifferent you are makes life go by smoother, got to be empathic to oneself also for survival.

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

I used to think people talking about empaths are nuts but I believe in strong intuition and third eyes and stuff like that now. Do people saying they're empaths really have some sort of six sense? Maybe sometimes idk

by Retaokuneva 4 weeks ago

Everyone I've known who has identified as an empath is incredibly insecure and, ultimately, selfish. The insecure will always choose themselves when things get tough. And their threshold for what is tough is much lower than most.

by alana54 4 weeks ago

The only self proclaimed empath I know is my mother who was extremely emotionally and psychologically abusive, soooo… 🤷‍♀️

by howealva 4 weeks ago

It's just a very overrated way of saying they are kind and caring and compassionate like someone else said but harping on it is quite questionable

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

We need to reject letting people call themselves "empaths". Every single humans being has empathetic abilities. Many other animals also do. Being an "empath" is not special.

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

Never mind.

by Boring_Lobster_8813 4 weeks ago

*Deanna Troi has entered the chat

by Anonymous 4 weeks ago

I think more people than you think are empathetic. Many just either considering it normal and not identifying with it or arent (openly) empathetic enough to being called an "empath". Where I grew up, empathy was "taught" and to some degree expected as part of becoming more mature. It was not a special thing to identified with. People often try to be or are empathetic with others but also take themselves into account, leading them to not thow their capacities in all direction, and just burn out. Some people obviously are just assholes but there is way more nuance between pure asshole and empath and lets not forget dark empaths.

by Acrobatic_Lead 4 weeks ago

empaths are holier than thou. You are mischaracterizing them as good natured and caring. They just want the spotlight

by Schultzjarret 4 weeks ago

You're confusing empaths with people who identify as empaths

by walkeradaline 4 weeks ago

We do not need to be able to measure empathy to talk about it. Even if it is immeasurable, we can still see that some people are more empathetic than others. We can just say that most empathetic people are empaths.

by walkeradaline 4 weeks ago

How exactly can we see that some people are more empathetic than others? If they cry and show emotion more? I'd call them more sensitive. If they help people more? I'd call them more altruistic. What is the metric the average person should use to determine who is more empathetic than others given that nobody can really compare how strongly you feel an emotion compared to another person. Also how empathetic does one need to be in order to be considered an empath. It's a useless term.

by howealva 4 weeks ago

Do you think all people are equally empathetic? Or do you just think empathy in general is a useless term?

by walkeradaline 4 weeks ago

Sure some people are more empathetic and some people are less empathetic. I believe on the extreme negative side, we'd call them sociopaths or psychopaths maybe and we all have a pretty good idea of what they are like. My problem is that it's not as easy to identify somebody on the extreme positive side of the empathy continuum. What sets them apart? How can we identify them in life without simply saying "somebody who feels empathy more" since that's a meaningless statement.

by howealva 4 weeks ago

Idk what to tell you. It isn't meaningless just because you personally can't grasp the meaning of it.

by walkeradaline 4 weeks ago

I'd say it's kind of easy in theory to measure. Put one person in a lab and have them observe a variety of situations and see how often they're able to empathize with a person even when it's outside the socially constructed normal. How many people are able to empathize with drug addicts, prostitututes and porn stars, those who we deemed ugly and queer? I wouldn't say the majority by the looks of the world right now. I think we can pretty easily measure/observe how much empathy one has by simple observation

by Kirstenkulas 4 weeks ago

Love and light girlies /=/ "empaths" lol at least the version I assume ur thinking of

by Kirstenkulas 4 weeks ago