How can I appear more empathetical?

Asperger's?

Sociopath...



It's easy. Just pretend you care. Do what other people do. Look sad. Be quieter/louder than normal.

Without trying to be rude or scare you, this sounds a little bit like you might be somewhere on the autism spectrum. I'm similar and people have suggested the same to me although it's never caused a problem so it's never been tested. Have you considered getting checked for this?

Lack of empathy is the only trait of the AS I have. I'm perfectly fine in social situations, have no social anxiety problems and have no other traits such as obsession etc.

Look up sociopathic/psychopathic tendencies.

Surprisingly enough they don't suddenly = serial killer.

Still if it worries you that much, talk to your doctor and get a referral to a psychiatrist.

If I saw a psychiatrist, wouldn't that cause problems with my job? Considering I work in care and all? I doubt my job would take kindly to, Mr. xx has been diagnosed as a psychopath..

To my surprise I have got a fair few traits when I searched wikipedia, though, I'm not promiscious, I don't use people for "parasitic lifestyle" and I haven't been in jail in my life.

You can have psychopathic/sociopathic traits without actually being a psychopath. Also i'm pretty sure you wouldn't be allowed to be discriminated against. Unless you were psychopathic to the point of actively aiming to harm other people there should be no reason that your job should suffer. Can you check your contract in regards to this?

You can't really appear to be more empathetic. You either are or you aren't :P Maybe this is just how you deal with things. You could explain to your fellow workers that this is the case and maybe they'll understand you then.

Thing is, the way you describe this woman and your not caring about what happened to her seems like you're lacking something. Again, i'm not trying to be offensive, but it's not a typical or 'normal' reaction.

^Why are some of you labeling him with potential disorders? He said he doesn't know how to show empathy, not that he isn't empathetic.

I have a little bit of a similar issue, but I think it's due to habit of keeping my emotions in check and intact.

I don't feel empathy and because of that I can't show it when being casual.

Sociopath...



It's easy. Just pretend you care. Do what other people do. Look sad. Be quieter/louder than normal.

If you don't feel anything when people who you've had contact with are hurt, then it sounds like you have psychopathic tendencies, which isn't the same as being violent/murderous/emotionally dead. When you discount being manipulative, if you actually are naturally manipulative you'd be unlikely to know as that's simply how you grew up and see as a natural part of human interaction (a sort of "fish don't have a word for water" thing).

As for a practical solution, just try and emulate how other behave, if not look. When everyone's in a sombre mood, just don't smile and stay relatively silent compared to your regular self as you'll seem like you're lost in thought over the sadness of the situation. Also, ask your GP as even if your not a psychopath there may be some neurological basis for your lack of empathy that can be fixed.

If you don't feel anything when people who you've had contact with are hurt, then it sounds like you have psychopathic tendencies, which isn't the same as being violent/murderous/emotionally dead. When you discount being manipulative, if you actually are naturally manipulative you'd be unlikely to know as that's simply how you grew up and see as a natural part of human interaction (a sort of "fish don't have a word for water" thing).

As for a practical solution, just try and emulate how other behave, if not look. When everyone's in a sombre mood, just don't smile and stay relatively silent compared to your regular self as you'll seem like you're lost in thought over the sadness of the situation. Also, ask your GP as even if your not a psychopath there may be some neurological basis for your lack of empathy that can be fixed.

If he were a sociopath he would have no empathy but be able to fake it.

Its quite humorous how people are jumping the gun and labeling you a sociopath might as well diagnose what kind of a sociopath you are while we're at it soo.. :

There seems to be a difference between the made sociopath (one who's lived a life with a childhood that pushed them into the mind state of a sociopath) and the "true" sociopath (one who is born a sociopath.)
- Common Sociopath: simple lack of conscious.
- Alienated Sociopath: an inability to love or recieve love.
- Aggressive Sociopath: a consistent saddistic streak

Which one are you Are you a mudblood, or a true blood?

Are you a common sociopath, or the aggressive type who's likely to evolve into the next Ted Bundy?

Come on people. Don't just make assumptions. I think that you should just embrace the fact you aren't an empathic person, rather than faking it.
Its rather shallow of your colleagues/friends to say "Oh he doesn't care" especially when under certain circumstances you obviously do - like when your baby died (sorry to hear that). If I were in your shoes, I would just be honest, and tell close friends and family that sometimes you find it difficult to express your emotions. That way, if something tragic happens, they'll understand why you're not responding in an empathic manner. Rather than taking it personally, they'll know that its just a part of who you are.
I wouldn't say there is anything wrong with you, in terms of mental disorders. Being empathic is something 'society' sees as being morally accepted so not being able to empathise clearly leads to people pointing the figure at a personality disorder. Its seen as being out of the ordinary, so you're apparently bonkers up there

Oh stop with the CSI analysis. He does not need to get his nervous system checked out.

Now I consciously know I am manipulative but people often think manipulation is purely for evil reasons. It can be anything from getting a desired reaction to make yourself feel better.

Is it possible to lack empathy and do what I did without having a personality disorder?