Post #1359637
2026-04-06 12:52 UTC
@Susan60
Barriers to understanding empathy better for many people also seem to be assuming that "if you have it", you also must know what it is, so you must already understand it to some degree, to "not be a psychopath".
So you can't learn what it is, since you already know what it is, otherwise "you'd be a bad person" and that can't be.
To some degree also be able to see, if others "have it", since you're "using your empathy for that" and if you aren't, then maybe you "lack empathy".
3/3
Replies (1)
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@Susan60@aus.social 2026-04-06 22:30
@hauchvonstaub 🤯 It’s also silly pop psychology ideas around whether you’re a “people person” or “task focussed”. A simplistic binary. Sometimes I am focussed on a particular thing, which might be a person’s welfare, or might be a project of some sort. At one point in time, I might not notice a person’s emotional state, being focussed on a task, unless they are distraught. I used to focus on what could be done to practically support someone, to reduce mental load etc. I’ve learned that sometimes people most want/need just to be listened to, and that trying to solve their problem isn’t always what they need. Or might even be unhelpful. So yes, I was able to learn, even if it was hard.