The concept of empathy, once considered an unambiguously prosocial human trait, has been challenged by recent research. A study by Heym et al. (2020) revealed a personality profile combining high empathy with high levels of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, known as Dark Empaths. This finding complicates the standard scientific understanding of empathy. The article explores the implications of this discovery, highlighting the selective and exhaustible nature of empathy, and the potential for its exploitation by dangerous personalities. It also discusses the distinction between empathy and compassion, and the need to recognize the limitations of empathy as a moral compass. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding the complexities of empathy and the potential for its misuse, while also acknowledging its real and useful aspects. The article concludes by questioning the reliability of empathy in determining trustworthiness.
