Is empathy a trait that people are born with or is it developed?

Question

Kaneki05 · Accepted Answer

Born with it but anything after birth can offset it.
Psychopaths are made not born so. Then again now i could go into how genetics can actually increase your chances of been a psychopath. And how genetics play a part in lots of stuff.
But the main point stands that one is not born with it.
Empathy on the otherhand is something we are born with just like that baby before it becomes a psychopath.

We can also just say psychopaths are not 100% cut off from the empathy. Not really how that works. So they still have it. Even if they don't show it because the way there brain has structured. Also they kinda have high form of cognitive empathy, which helps them fake it and pretend to know what's other's empathy is like. Aka why you will never know even if you met one.
And this example can go for anything not just psychopaths, people are born with empathy.

Mahito · Accepted Answer

It depends if the person has a mental illness when they're born I think. Like being a psychopath. They removed sociopath & just turned it into just psychopath only. A sociopath was socialized to be that way. While the psychopath was born that way. They later came to the conclusion that they're just born that way & can't be socialized to be like that. The point I'm trying make is: since you can't be socialized to have apathy, then I feel it's the same thing for the opposite. You can't be socialize to have empathy. A lot of people confuse apathy & anhedonia & think someone is apathic because they don't care about anything. They might even think the person is a psychopath, but that's just the depression causing the anhedonia. So my answer is you're born with apathy or empathy. You can't develop it later in life. But I could be wrong.

jennifer_bloom · Accepted Answer

I believe most people learn empathy from two sources, their earliest caregivers and their God. Children can be cruel and don’t always teach empathy to each other’s because they are not mature enough to be teachers so it’s the parents who set the emotional tone for the child and sometimes it’s God for children who are not loved or properly cared for by their parents. As a 36 year old, my empathy comes from God, cause I don’t feel safe being vulnerable or emotionally receptive to my family or friends.

Msputiton · Accepted Answer

Little bit of both.
It's in us and naturally comes out.
Working at a daycare you can see them instinctive show it at times, but it also has to be taught its okay to show it or people will begin to suppress it

Wade12345 · Answer

I not only have Empathy, I'm Empathic, like Deanna Troi Empathic. I can FEEL the pain of the person on those "Fail" videos busting their ass or balls on a skateboard or bike. It is really some sort of ESP even. When I say, "I feel their pain," I really mean that.

Soteris · Answer

Both. Humans are usually (not always) born with a sense of empathy but you also require a certain understanding to form an empathic bond. As history has shown plenty of times already, its fairly easy to "dehumanize" other people and rob you of the ability to empathize with them which can lead to things like the ability to commit genocide without feeling bad even though under normal circumstances you are a perfectly normal and empathic person.

DonkeyDan · Answer

Empathy or the ability to form empathy is genetic, there will obviously by environment factors that will shape it over time but your inherent ability to feel empathy is with you from birth.

RoccRaider24 · Answer

I think we are born with it that is everyone. But like all thing in life things develope with practice and consistency. It's like the story of the two wolves, the one you tend to the most grows the most.

Still-alive · Answer

i think some seem to have it more than others but no i do believe it can be molded and developed over time.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

Both, you are born with the ability to empathize, but you develop a knowledge base that allows you to do so.

Empathy requires both understanding, and the instinctual discomforting response to negative things happening to others.

ManHater · Answer

I don't hold any empathy for those who bring blight upon them selves. Like women and men having kids without giving two thoughts as to how they are going to raise the child. I'm sorry I don't feel sorry for stupid people.

Seangreen · Answer

Empathy is not a trait. Anybody can look at another human being and tell if they're upset or happy or sad or whatever. If anyone tells you they're an empath get the fuck out of there because they have a cluster B personality disorder

Steve1071 · Answer

It is taught by our parents but as time goes by it can be slowly stripped away to the point you don’t give a shit about anybody or anything.

Wester1967 · Answer

Mine was manufactured by my narcissistic parents and grandmothers.

sage2021 · Answer

If you don't have envy it is because there is an actual problem in the brain.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

Probably a bit of both, but it is one of those things where it is hard to tell.

exitseven · Answer

It is both. There are studies where twins are brought up in different environments and both share certain traits like empathy and compassion.

boxxie2002 · Answer

I think born with. You can have siblings with completely the same up bringing with one empathic and the other one being insensitive

AndrésC64 · Answer

I think it's both, but some people are just naturally more empathetic. I think I am pretty empathetic.

Waldoe · Answer

I think most people are born with empathy, unless your a sociopath

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

A bit of both but mostly born with. Some people's genetic line is so wicked they are born devils from the jump.

Guardian45 · Answer

I think empathy is learned upto a certain age or point, after which it will not change.

007kingifrit · Answer

i think women are born with empathy but men must learn it

Abdulwahh · Answer

People are born with traits and develop them over time

Agape93 · Answer

Both, and can be reduced as well sadly

ChkltCat · Answer

I guess empathy is acquired by your parents

Anonymous · Answer

Developed during the childhood experiences and parenting

dustybiker · Answer

Born with. You either have/had it or you don’t.

QuietRunner · Answer

you mean like Transempathy or cisempathy?

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

I would say it's both

Andres77 · Answer

Both nature and nurture.

Anonymous · Answer

both but mostly born with. nature vs nurture.

pink_and_inlove · Answer

It is developed I believe

emperor90 · Answer

U get it as u get older

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

I’d say a little bit of both

andy530 · Answer

I definitely think it is both

TheAfrikan · Answer

Developed from childhood.

NathanDavis · Answer

both and more

Gwenhwyfar · Answer

Both

Likes2drive · Answer

Probably developed

msc545 · Answer

Both. Or not.

Is empathy a trait that people are born with or is it developed?

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