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hkpackyesterday at 10:01 PM2 repliesview on HN

I think your description would be perfect in describing a psychopath - i.e. someone who can rationalize and think about other beings logically, without actually being able to subconsciously empathize.

Not all people like that at all. Some people really do feel emotions of others before being able to rationalize it.


Replies

yetihehetoday at 7:17 AM

> Some people really do feel emotions of others before being able to rationalize it.

Yeah, they are called empaths. That's empathy. Rationalizing is another process, which can be done faster with high emotional/social intelligence.

> psychopath - i.e. someone who can rationalize and think about other beings logically, without actually being able to subconsciously empathize.

Exactly. Low on empathy but high on intelligence - psychopath. Low on emotional intelligence but high on empathy - empath. Low on both - unfeeling idiot. High on both - a warm kind person.

jjk166yesterday at 11:47 PM

No, a psychopath is someone who can't empathize. Theory of mind has nothing to do with empathy. The overwhelming majority of people are capable of both, but they are two distinct skills.