“Empathy is intelligence. High IQ people tend to also have high EQ”

[pleroman]

Yes, this does make a lot of sense. I thought about it more also and realised that psychopaths and narcissists must actually be able to read some emotions- they likely get their power trips from seeing people distressed.

I guess I have my own bias that emotional intelligence is always this nice thing. Empaths that love everyone and feel their pain. Not so nice for them of course but- yeah, I suppose there must be different types and different levels.

Do you think it's an inherrited thing or, do you think we learn it? I certainly think there are certain health conditions which can affect it. I've even heard of someone who's character entirely changed following a stroke.

I think there is definitely a genetic component, but that it can change under certain circumstances.
I wish it could be 'learned' as life would be way better as a psychopath. Being saddled with pathetic emotions is a huge curse in the dog-eat-dog world. There is no doubt that 'high-functioning' psychopaths have the opportunity for much better quality of life.
Well, the separate component is probably linked to guilt/shame. I am aware I could make evil and harmful choices intentionally to get ahead, but am only able to do such choices if I essentially have no choice i.e. would have horrible consequences/death if I "did the right thing" by others.
Getting rid of feeling bad about being an evil piece of shit is key. In that case, the cognitive empathy is indeed a huge asset.
There may be some drugs that help. Rage/hatred can help overpower guilt but it highly impractical and disorienting.

 

[pyx]

lol at this thread. empathy is only reserved for those who deserve it, according to majoritarian ethics. ive met some truly cruel individuals who were academically very bright, so perhaps they thought of themselves as empathic individuals only when appealing to populist empathy; most people aren't put in a position where empathy can be exercised outside of these immediate cut-and-dry situations, and if they are, then they become utterly unaware, since they won't even consider the situation requiring due empathy in the first place. indifference is tantamount to cruelty. EQ is moralistic rabble