Psychopathy Vs. Sociopathy: What Happens When You Can’t Feel Empathy

Most of us experience empathy, or the ability to understand what others are going through, on such a regular basis we barely think of it. In fact, for the majority of the population, empathy is literally second nature. However, what about that small group of people who don’t know how to emphasize?

Empathy is a human trait we evolved in order to help us survive, procreate, and better our species. In a recent video uploaded by Noggin, the team explained that humans evolved this ability slowly over time, first by creating pairs with our mates in order to raise our young, and then in order to live in communities and help ensure the survival of the group over the survival of the individual.

Read: What’s The Difference Between A Sociopath And A Psychopath? (Not Much, But One Might Kill You)

Today, humans are pretty good at empathizing, and according to Noggin, when we see others experiencing pain it actually activates areas of our brain associated with our own pain receptors. So, in a way, you really do understand what others are going through.

Though most of us are born with the tools needed to experience empathy, this skill still needs to be nurtured. Some individuals with extremely difficult childhoods lacking any empathy grow up unable to feel this emotion. This is medically known as sociopathy. On the other hand, some individuals may be born with a defect that means they are unable to perceive and understand the emotions of others. This is known as psychopathy.

Although these terms are commonly used in culture, as reminded by Noggin, they are true medical conditions. Both involve a lack of empathy, but key differences set them apart, with psychopathy being the more dangerous of the two.

Watch the video below to learn more!